Blood cell counts and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis

BACKGROUND Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease.Nonetheless,the causal relationships remain unknown.AIM To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits on liver enzymes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)risk.METHODS Independent genetic variants strongly associated with blood cell traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study(GWAS)conducted by the Blood Cell Consortium.Summary-level data for liver enzymes were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank.NAFLD data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis(8434 cases and 770180 controls,discovery dataset)and the Fingen GWAS(2275 cases and 372727 controls,replication dataset).This analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method,followed by various sensitivity analyses.RESULTS One SD increase in the genetically predicted haemoglobin concentration(HGB)was associated with aβof 0.0078(95%CI:0.0059-0.0096),0.0108(95%CI:0.0080-0.0136),0.0361(95%CI:0.0156-0.0567),and 0.0083(95%CI:00046-0.0121)for alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase,and gammaglutamyl transferase,respectively.Genetically predicted haematocrit was associated with ALP(β=0.0078,95%CI:0.0052-0.0104)and ALT(β=0.0057,95%CI:0.0039-0.0075).Genetically determined HGB and the reticulocyte fraction of red blood cells increased the risk of NAFLD[odds ratio(OR)=1.199,95%CI:1.087-1.322]and(OR=1.157,95%CI:1.071-1.250).The results of the sensitivity analyses remained significant.CONCLUSION Novel causal blood cell traits related to liver enzymes and NAFLD development were revealed through Mendelian randomization analysis,which may facilitate the diagnosis and prevention of NAFLD.

Platelet counts to spleen diameter ratio:A promising noninvasive tool for predicting esophageal varices in cirrhosis patients

BACKGROUND Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of progressive liver fibrosis as a consequence of chronic liver inflammation,wherein the standard hepatic architecture is replaced by regenerative hepatic nodules,which eventually lead to liver failure.Cirrhosis without any symptoms is referred to as compensated cirrhosis.Complications such as ascites,variceal bleeding,and hepatic encephalopathy indicate the onset of decompensated cirrhosis.Gastroesophageal varices are the hallmark of clini-cally significant portal hypertension.AIM To determine the accuracy of the platelet count-to-spleen diameter(PC/SD)ratio to evaluate esophageal varices(EV)in patients with cirrhosis.METHODS This retrospective observational study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specia-lized Hospital and Adera Medical Center from January 1,2019,to December 30,2023.Data were collected via chart review and direct patient interviews using structured questionnaires.The data were exported to the SPSS software version 26 for analysis and clearance.A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted for splenic diameter,platelet count,and PC/SD ratio to obtain sensitivity,speci-ficity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,positive likelihood ratio,and negative likelihood ratio.RESULTS Of the 140 participants,67%were men.Hepatitis B(38%)was the most common cause of cirrhosis,followed by cryptogenic cirrhosis(28%)and hepatitis C(16%).Approximately 83.6%of the participants had endoscopic evidence of EV,whereas 51.1%had gastric varices.Decompensated cirrhosis and PC were associated with the presence of EV with adjusted odds ratios of 12.63(95%CI:3.16-67.58,P=0.001)and 0.14(95%CI:0.037-0.52,P=0.004),respectively.A PC/SD ratio<1119 had a sensitivity of 86.32%and specificity of 70%with area under the curve of 0.835(95%CI:0.736-0.934,P<0.001).CONCLUSION A PC/SD ratio<1119 predicts EV in patients with cirrhosis.It is a valuable,noninvasive tool for EV risk assess-ment in resource-limited settings.

Accuracy Assessment and Guidelines for Manual Traffic Counts from Pre-Recorded Video Data

Traffic count is the fundamental data source for transportation planning, management, design, and effectiveness evaluation. Recording traffic flow and counting from the recorded videos are increasingly used due to convenience, high accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. Manual counting from pre-recorded video footage can be prone to inconsistencies and errors, leading to inaccurate counts. Besides, there are no standard guidelines for collecting video data and conducting manual counts from the recorded videos. This paper aims to comprehensively assess the accuracy of manual counts from pre-recorded videos and introduces guidelines for efficiently collecting video data and conducting manual counts by trained individuals. The accuracy assessment of the manual counts was conducted based on repeated counts, and the guidelines were provided from the experience of conducting a traffic survey on forty strip mall access points in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. The percentage of total error, classification error, and interval error were found to be 1.05 percent, 1.08 percent, and 1.29 percent, respectively. Besides, the percent root mean square errors (RMSE) were found to be 1.13 percent, 1.21 percent, and 1.48 percent, respectively. Guidelines were provided for selecting survey sites, instruments and timeframe, fieldwork, and manual counts for an efficient traffic data collection survey.

Development and Evaluation of Intersection-Based Turning Movement Counts Framework Using Two Channel LiDAR Sensors

This paper presents vehicle localization and tracking methodology to utilize two-channel LiDAR data for turning movement counts. The proposed methodology uniquely integrates a K-means clustering technique, an inverse sensor model, and a Kalman filter to obtain the final trajectories of an individual vehicle. The objective of applying K-means clustering is to robustly differentiate LiDAR data generated by pedestrians and multiple vehicles to identify their presence in the LiDAR’s field of view (FOV). To localize the detected vehicle, an inverse sensor model was used to calculate the accurate location of the vehicles in the LiDAR’s FOV with a known LiDAR position. A constant velocity model based Kalman filter is defined to utilize the localized vehicle information to construct its trajectory by combining LiDAR data from the consecutive scanning cycles. To test the accuracy of the proposed methodology, the turning movement data was collected from busy intersections located in Newark, NJ. The results show that the proposed method can effectively develop the trajectories of the turning vehicles at the intersections and has an average accuracy of 83.8%. Obtained R-squared value for localizing the vehicles ranges from 0.87 to 0.89. To measure the accuracy of the proposed method, it is compared with previously developed methods that focused on the application of multiple-channel LiDARs. The comparison shows that the proposed methodology utilizes two-channel LiDAR data effectively which has a low resolution of data cluster and can achieve acceptable accuracy compared to multiple-channel LiDARs and therefore can be used as a cost-effective measure for large-scale data collection of smart cities.

三维加速度counts估算不同步速能量消耗应用初探

以间接热测定法为标准,探索counts与能量消耗之间的关系,建立基于三维加速度counts能耗推算方程,寻求不同强度身体运动的counts切点。实验选取115名受试者,佩戴Cortex-3B便携式气体代谢分析仪与ActiGraph GT3X三轴加速度计,分别采用4.8km/h、5.6km/h、6.4km/h、7.2km/h、8.0km/h、8.8km/h步速。结果认为:不同步速下合矢量counts性别间差异不显著;不同步速下体重组别合矢量counts差异无统计学意义;身高、去脂体重与VO2、MET相关性较低,而性别、BMI都在0.2左右水平上显著相关;将BMI与性别引入推算方程,有效提高了counts预测能耗的准确性。

Reduction effect of bacterial counts by preoperative saline lavage of the stomach in performing laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery

AIM: To investigate the effects of gastric lavage with 2000 mL of saline in laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery.

Circulating Neutrophil Counts Decrease in Response to Mitigated Air Quality in Stable COPD Patients

This three-year study, based on the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease （GRID）, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） Biobank, was conducted in 36 COPD patients to estimate whether changes in levels of leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and platelets were related to changes in air pollutant concentration. Daily NO2 levels exhibited significant differences between baseline years and the 2010 Asian Game period. We observed significant reductions in leukocyte and neutrophils counts levels, by 15.51% and 23.01%, from pre-Asian Games to during-Asian Games, respectively. In the post-Asian Game period, most pollutants approximated pre-Asian Game period levels, and similar effects were demonstrated in leukocyte and neutrophil counts. For both items, we identified significant increases resulting from elevated NO2 at lag days 0-2/5-6. We concluded that reductions in pollutants during the intervention period were associated with inactivation of hematological events in COPD.

Dynamically Computing Approximate Frequency Counts in Sliding Window over Data Stream

This paper presents two one-pass algorithms for dynamically computing frequency counts in sliding window over a data stream-computing frequency counts exceeding user-specified threshold ε. The first algorithm constructs subwindows and deletes expired sub-windows periodically in sliding window, and each sub-window maintains a summary data structure. The first algorithm outputs at most 1/ε ＋ 1 elements for frequency queries over the most recent N elements. The second algorithm adapts multiple levels method to deal with data stream. Once the sketch of the most recent N elements has been constructed, the second algorithm can provides the answers to the frequency queries over the most recent n （ n≤N） elements. The second algorithm outputs at most 1/ε ＋ 2 elements. The analytical and experimental results show that our algorithms are accurate and effective.

Effect of a biological activated carbon filter on particle counts

Due to the importance of biological safety in drinking water quality and the disadvantages which exist in traditional methods of detecting typical microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it is necessary to develop an alternative. Particle counts is a qualitative measurement of the amount of dissolved solids in water. The removal rate of particle counts was previously used as an indicator of the effectiveness of a biological activated carbon (BAC) filter in removing Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The particle counts in a BAC filter effluent over one operational period and the effects of BAC filter construction and operational parameters were investigated with a 10 m3/h pilot plant. The results indicated that the maximum particle count in backwash remnant water was as high as 1296 count/ml and it needed about 1.5 h to reduce from the maximum to less than 50 count/ml. During the standard filtration period, particle counts stay constant at less than 50 count/ml for 5 d except when influ- enced by sand filter backwash remnant water. The removal rates of particle counts in the BAC filter are related to characteristics of the carbon. For example, a columned carbon and a sand bed removed 33.3% and 8.5% of particles, respectively, while the particle counts in effluent from a cracked BAC filter was higher than that of the influent. There is no significant difference among particle removal rates with different filtration rates. High post-ozone dosage (>2 mg/L) plays an important role in particle count removal; when the dosage was 3 mg/L, the removal rates by carbon layers and sand beds decreased by 17.5% and increased by 9.5%, respectively, compared with a 2 mg/L dosage.

PALMAR RIDGE COUNTS IN FAMILIAL DEAFNESS

The present study was undertaken to measure a-b, a-d and td ridge counts of deaf patients and to compare the dermatoglyphic differences among deaf individuals. The data consists of 208 heredo-familial Punjabi Khatri and Arora deaf subjects, including 118 males and 90 femeles. The control sample consists of 228 Punjabis, comprising of 128 males and 100 females. The present study indicates lower incidence of ’a-b’, ’a-d’ and ’td’ ridge counts in deaf groups when compared to the corresponding normal groups.

Sustained heavy ethanol drinking affects CD4⁺cell counts in HIV-infected patients on stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC) and nevirapine (NVP) treatment regimen during 9 months follow-up period

Sustained heavy ethanol drinking is a common problem globally and ethanol is one of the most abused drugs among individuals of different socio-economic status including the HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral drugs. Ethanol is reward drug and a CNS depressant especially at high doses. The study determined the effect of sustained heavy ethanol drinking by HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP regimen on CD4+ cell counts in Uganda using WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers. A case control study using repeated measures design with serial measurements model was used. The patients on stavudine (d4T) 30 mg, lamivudine (3TC) 150 mg and nevirapine (NVP) 200 mg and chronic alcohol use were recruited. A total of 41 patients (20 in alcohol group and 21 in control group) were screened for chronic alcohol use by WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol use biomarkers. They were followed up for 9 months with blood sampling done at 3 months intervals. CD4+ cell count was determined using Facscalibur Flow Cytometer system. Results were then sorted by alcohol-use biomarkers (GGT, MCV and AST/ ALT ratio). Data were analysed using SAS 2003 version 9.1 statistical package with repeated measures fixed model and the means were compared using student t-test. The mean CD4+ cell counts in all the groups were lower than the reference ranges at baseline and gradually increased at 3, 6 and 9 months of follow-up. The mean CD4+ cell counts were higher in the control group as compared to the chronic alcohol use group in both WHO AUDIT tool group and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers group though there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Chronic alcohol use slightly lowers CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP treatment regimen.

Daily step counts were associated with suicide in all 47 prefectures of Japan

The link between suicide and daily step counts was evaluated in all 47 prefectures of Japan by ecological study. The crude rate of suicide was significantly and negatively correlated with daily step counts. However, the association between the age-adjusted rate of suicide and daily step counts was noted only in men. These results suggest that increasing daily step counts may be useful for preventing suicide, especially in men, in Japan.

Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts

The main intent of this study is to investigate the accuracy of short-duration traffic counts conducted during winter months. The investigation is based on 11-year sample data collected using permanent traffic counters at various locations in Alberta, Canada. Four types of road sites： commuter, regional commuter, rural long-distance, and recreational sites are studied. The sample data consti- tute six different durations of counts （12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-h, and 1 week） taken during summer and winter months. The coefficient of variation （CV） is used as the relative measure of deviation for counts of different dura- tions to measure the accuracy of short-period traffic counts. The study results indicate that 48-h count seems to be the most cost-effective counting interval during both summer and winter months. It is also found that the lowest values of CV result for counts taken at commuter sites, and the highest values are observed for recreational sites. Frequent changes in temperature and other weather events cause significant variation in traffic volume, which results in an increase in CV values for counts taken during winter months. The application of an adjustment factor to remove the effect of cold and snow from short-period counts is also included in this study. Introduced adjustment factors can reduce the values of CV for all counts taken during winter months. The findings of this study can lead highway agencies to improve the cost-effectiveness of their short- period traffic counting programs.

Changes in Low Energy Neutron Counts Rate near Ground Level Associated to Steady Rain

Measurements of neutron count rate （0.025 eV to 10 MeV） at ground level were performed with a single free （He-3） tube detectorthat is located near ground level in Aeronautical Institute of Technology （ITA） Silo Jos6 dos Campos, SP, Brazil. The data were collected uninterruptedly since February 28, 2016 to March 11, 2016. Based on the analysis of data obtained in this period, was possible to observe the occurrence of events, backscattering for example,with significant increases in the neutron count rate during about 3 days of steady rain for all nearby regions. These events seem to be correlated with changes in local weather conditions such as cloud coverage or rain-precipitation of weak intensity. It was reported that the non-observation of a single event seems to be an indicative of the production of a burst of neutrons by a lightning discharge near the detector. Some explanations about the increasing of low energy neutrons are suggested in this article.

Evidence of Renal Damage in HIV-Infected Patients with High CD4 Counts Following the Use of Traditional Medicine

Kidney dysfunction is one of the most serious complications resulting from the use of traditional medicine which is common in Africa accounting for about 35% of renal damage in HIV-infected patients. In this cross sectional study, 250 HIV-infected patients were groups as follows: ART GrpA (100), ART + traditional medicine use GrpB (100) and ART treatment naïve + traditional medicine GrpC (50). Tubular dysfunctions were defined when at least two or more of the following abnormalities were repeatedly present: Uricosuria ≥ 0.05 mg/dl, Phosphaturia ≥ 20.0 mg/dl, Glucosuria ≥ 0.1 mg/dl, Proteinuria = positive protein on dipstick urine. Renal dysfunctions were found to be significantly high (P = 0.001) in the group of patients treated with ART + traditional medicine. 27 (64.29%) patients followed by ART treatment naïve patients + traditional medicine;12 (28.57%) patients and only 4 (7.14%) patients developed renal toxicity in the ART treatment Grp. But strikingly CD4 counts were also significantly higher in Grp B (683 cell/ul) compared to group A (446 cell/ul) and C (206 cell/ul). Our results show that HIV-infected patients on ART combined with traditional medicine might develop renal abnormalities in the presence of high CD4 counts, in the course of incessant use of traditional medicine. Thus it is important that more research be conducted on its usage among the Black population with HIV infection.

Performance quality counts more in moderating economic growth On the development of China's textile industry during the 12th FiveYear Program period by Wang Tiankai,President of CNTAC

During the 12th Five-Year Program period,China’s textile industry presented various new features in its development.Entering the"New Normal",the industry development witnessed a moderated speed shift from high to medium.Especially,China’s total export value of textile and apparel showed a negative growth in 2015,which has been the third time following the Asian fi-

Sperm counts in Asian men: Reviewing the trend of past 50 years

Objective:To reveal the trend in alterations of sperm counts in Asian men over the past 50 years.Methods:This study reviewed all the published reports to unveil the specific pattern of alterations of sperm concentrations in Asian men from 1965 till 2015. The time-related changes in sperm concentration were studied using linear regression analyses.Results:The present study elucidated the trend using the reports from Carlsenet al(1965-1990) and non-Carlsen studies published until 2015, on fertile Asian men. In the reports of Carlsenet al., no overall declining trend in Asian men (r = 0.509,P= 0.760) was observed during this tenure, but non-Carsen reports showed a significant time-dependent decline of sperm concentration (r = -0.754, P = 0.005) in Asian men. This present review also showed a mild time-dependant decline in sperm concentration (-0.44×106/mL/year, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.23;r = -0.473,P = 0.040) which accounted for an overall 22.17% decrease in past 50 years.Conclusions:This study brings to the forefront that sperm concentration among Asian men follows a mild declining trend over the period of 50 years, and further studies addressing the causes of this decline are required.

Low preoperative platelet counts predict a high mortality after partial hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To assess the validity of our selection criteria for hepatectomy procedures based on indocyanine green disappearance rate （KICG）, and to unveil the factors affecting posthepatectomy mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： A retrospective analysis of 198 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent partial hepatectomies in the past 14 years was conducted. The selection criteria for hepatectomy procedures during the study period were KICG≥0.12 for hemihepatectomy, KICG≥0.10 for bisegmentectomy, KCG≥0.08 for monosegmentectomy, and KICG≥ 0.06 for nonanatomic hepatectomy. The hepatectomies were categorized into three types： major hepatectomy （hemihepatectomy or a more extensive procedure）, bisegmentectomy, and limited hepatectomy. Univariate （Fishers exact test） and multivariate （the logistic regression model） analyses were used. RESULTS： Postoperative mortality was 5% after major hepatectomy, 3% after bisegmentectomy, and 3% after limited hepatectomy. The bhree percentages were comparable （P = 0.876）. The platelet count of ≤ 10× 10^4/μL was the strongest independent factor for postoperative mortality on univariate （P = 0.001） and multivariate （risk ratio, 12.5; P= 0.029） analyses. No patient with a platelet count of 〉7.3× 10^4/μL died of postoperative morbidity, whereas 25% （6/24 patients） of patients with a platelet count of ≤7.3×10^4/μL died （P〈0.001）. CONCLUSION： The selection criteria for hepatectomy procedures based on KICG are generally considered valid, because of the acceptable morbidity and mortality with these criteria. The preoperative platelet count independently affects morbidity and mortality after hepatectomy, suggesting that a combination of KICG and platelet count would further reduce postoperative mortality.

Longitudinal decrease in platelet counts as a surrogate marker of liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND Liver cirrhosis is a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The disease is usually indolent and asymptomatic early in its course while many cirrhotic patients are diagnosed late when severe complications occur.A major challenge is to diagnose advanced fibrosis as early as possible,using simple and non-invasive diagnostics tools.Thrombocytopenia represents advanced fibrosis and portal hypertension(HTN)and most non-invasive scores that predict liver fibrosis incorporate platelets as a strong risk factor.However,little is known about the association between longitudinal changes in platelet counts(PTC),when still within the normal range,and the risk of cirrhosis.AIM To explore whether platelet counts trajectories over time,can predict advanced liver fibrosis across the different etiologies of liver diseases.METHODS A nested case-control study utilizing a large computerized database.Cirrhosis cases(n=5258)were compared to controls(n=15744)matched for age and sex at a ratio of 1:3.All participants had multiple laboratory measurements prior to enrollment.We calculated the trends of PTC,liver enzymes,bilirubin,international normalized ratio,albumin and fibrosis scores(fibrosis-4 and aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index)throughout the preceding 20 years prior to cirrhosis diagnosis compared to healthy controls.The association between PTC,cirrhosis complications and fibrosis scores prior to cirrhosis diagnosis was investigated.RESULTS The mean age in both groups was 56(SD 15.8).Cirrhotic patients were more likely to be smokers,diabetic with chronic kidney disease and had a higher prevalence of HTN.The leading cirrhosis etiologies were viral,alcoholic and fatty liver disease.The mean PTC decreased from 240000/μL to 190000/μL up to 15 years prior to cirrhosis diagnosis compared to controls who’s PTC remained stable around the values of 240000/μL.This trend was consistent regardless of sex,cirrhosis etiology and was more pronounced in patients who developed varices and ascites.Compared to controls whose values remained in the normal range,in the cirrhosis group aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase,increased from 40 U/L to 75 U/L and FIB-4 increased gradually from 1.3 to 3 prior to cirrhosis diagnosis.In multivariable regression analysis,a decrease of 50 units in PTC was associated with 1.3 times odds of cirrhosis(95%CI 1.25-1.35).CONCLUSION In the preceding years before the diagnosis of cirrhosis,there is a progressive decline in PTC,within the normal range,matched to a gradual increase in fibrosis scores.