Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide.The identification of new simple,inexpensive and highly accurate markers for HCC diagnosis and screening is needed.This case-control...Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide.The identification of new simple,inexpensive and highly accurate markers for HCC diagnosis and screening is needed.This case-control study evaluates the role of annexin A2 and voltage-gated calcium channelsα2δ1 subunit as serum biomarkers for HCC diagnosis.Methods:The study comprised three groups:group 1,50 patients with an initial diagnosis of HCC associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection;group 2,25 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis without any evidence of HCC;and group 3,15 healthy controls.All participants were subjected to clinical and laboratory investigations,and radiological scanning.The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),annexin A2,and theα2δ1 subunit were evaluated by using ELISA technique.Results:The serum levels of annexin A2 significantly increased in patients with HCC(10.4±2.5 ng/m L;P<0.001)or with cirrhosis(9.31±1.8 ng/m L;P<0.001)comparing to that of healthy controls(0.296±0.09 ng/m L).However,there was no significant difference in serum annexin A2 levels in patients with HCC comparing to those with cirrhosis.Serumα2δ1 subunit significantly increased in patients with HCC(20.12±3.7 ng/m L)comparing to that in patients with cirrhosis(10.41±3.4 ng/m L,P<0.001)and healthy controls(10.2±2.9 ng/m L,P<0.001).Conclusions:The serumα2δ1 subunit may function as a new biomarker for HCC diagnosis.Conversely,serum annexin A2 has low diagnostic value as an HCC marker,especially in patients with underlying cirrhosis.展开更多
Lack of up-to-date information on efficient operation and maintenance of EPDS （electric power distribution systems）, Nigeria is addressed by designing and implementing an indigenous real-time monitoring and diagnosi...Lack of up-to-date information on efficient operation and maintenance of EPDS （electric power distribution systems）, Nigeria is addressed by designing and implementing an indigenous real-time monitoring and diagnosis system. The system encompasses the development of software driven hardware positioned at the remotely located sub-stations at the low voltage level to keep track of the network in real-time. The detection of faults exploits threshold passing algorithm through continuous monitoring of the network power quality. Communication between the RTU （remote terminal unit） and the DCC （distribution control center） which is based on GSM is initiated by disturbance. The DCC performs fault evaluation processing using the received data and predetermined faults signatures to determine the nature of disturbance and presents the result in graphic user interface environment. A fault reporting time of 2 s was achieved. The developed system exhibits a high degree of accuracy and manifests no spurious reports during testing. The resultant system limits the effects of interruption and increases power availability by reducing the down time. The system strengthens engineering and management capabilities required to enhance reliability by providing information about the network health status.展开更多
文摘Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide.The identification of new simple,inexpensive and highly accurate markers for HCC diagnosis and screening is needed.This case-control study evaluates the role of annexin A2 and voltage-gated calcium channelsα2δ1 subunit as serum biomarkers for HCC diagnosis.Methods:The study comprised three groups:group 1,50 patients with an initial diagnosis of HCC associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection;group 2,25 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis without any evidence of HCC;and group 3,15 healthy controls.All participants were subjected to clinical and laboratory investigations,and radiological scanning.The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),annexin A2,and theα2δ1 subunit were evaluated by using ELISA technique.Results:The serum levels of annexin A2 significantly increased in patients with HCC(10.4±2.5 ng/m L;P<0.001)or with cirrhosis(9.31±1.8 ng/m L;P<0.001)comparing to that of healthy controls(0.296±0.09 ng/m L).However,there was no significant difference in serum annexin A2 levels in patients with HCC comparing to those with cirrhosis.Serumα2δ1 subunit significantly increased in patients with HCC(20.12±3.7 ng/m L)comparing to that in patients with cirrhosis(10.41±3.4 ng/m L,P<0.001)and healthy controls(10.2±2.9 ng/m L,P<0.001).Conclusions:The serumα2δ1 subunit may function as a new biomarker for HCC diagnosis.Conversely,serum annexin A2 has low diagnostic value as an HCC marker,especially in patients with underlying cirrhosis.
文摘Lack of up-to-date information on efficient operation and maintenance of EPDS （electric power distribution systems）, Nigeria is addressed by designing and implementing an indigenous real-time monitoring and diagnosis system. The system encompasses the development of software driven hardware positioned at the remotely located sub-stations at the low voltage level to keep track of the network in real-time. The detection of faults exploits threshold passing algorithm through continuous monitoring of the network power quality. Communication between the RTU （remote terminal unit） and the DCC （distribution control center） which is based on GSM is initiated by disturbance. The DCC performs fault evaluation processing using the received data and predetermined faults signatures to determine the nature of disturbance and presents the result in graphic user interface environment. A fault reporting time of 2 s was achieved. The developed system exhibits a high degree of accuracy and manifests no spurious reports during testing. The resultant system limits the effects of interruption and increases power availability by reducing the down time. The system strengthens engineering and management capabilities required to enhance reliability by providing information about the network health status.
