AIM To assess the performance of BALAD, BALAD-2 and their component biomarkers in predicting outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients after liver transplant.METHODS BALAD score and BALAD-2 class are derived f...AIM To assess the performance of BALAD, BALAD-2 and their component biomarkers in predicting outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients after liver transplant.METHODS BALAD score and BALAD-2 class are derived from bilirubin, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP(AFP-L3), and des-gammacarboxyprothrombin(DCP). Pre-transplant AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP were measured in 113 patients transplanted for HCC from 2000 to 2008. Hazard ratios(HR) for recurrence and death were calculated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. C-statistics were used to compare biomarker-based to predictive models. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12.2 years, 38 patients recurred and 87 died. The HRs for recurrence in patients with elevated AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP defined by BALAD cut-off values were 2.42(1.18-5.00), 1.86(0.98-3.52), and 2.83(1.42-5.61), respectively. For BALAD, the HRs for recurrence and death per unit increased score were 1.48(1.15-1.91) and 1.59(1.28-1.97). For BALAD-2, the HRs for recurrence and death per unit increased class were 1.45(1.06-1.98) and 1.38(1.09-1.76). For recurrence prediction, the combination of three biomarkers had the highest c-statistic of 0.66 vs. 0.64, 0.61, 0.53, and 0.53 for BALAD, BALAD-2, Milan, and UCSF, respectively. Similarly, for death prediction, the combination of three biomarkers had the highest c-statistic of 0.66 vs 0.65,0.61, 0.52, and 0.50 for BALAD, BALAD-2, Milan, and UCSF. A new model combining biomarkers with tumor size at the time of transplant(S-LAD) demonstrated the highest predictive capability with c-statistics of 0.71 and 0.69 for recurrence and death. CONCLUSION BALAD and BALAD-2 are valid in transplant HCC patients, but less predictive than the three biomarkers in combination or the three biomarkers in combination with maximal tumor diameter(S-LAD).展开更多
The assessment of hydrochemical quality of groundwater is very important to explore its nature and usefulness. In this paper, groundwater quality evaluation is carried out in the Balad district, Salah Al-Din Governora...The assessment of hydrochemical quality of groundwater is very important to explore its nature and usefulness. In this paper, groundwater quality evaluation is carried out in the Balad district, Salah Al-Din Governorate, Iraq. A total of 28 groundwater samples are collected from shallow tube wells and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. Groundwater suitability for drinking is evaluated based on the World Health Organization(WHO) and Iraqi standards, and suitability of groundwater for irrigation is assessed based on various hydrochemical parameters. The results reveal that the dominant types of groundwater based on piper diagram are mixed CaMgCl and CaCl. Gibbs ratio indicates that the groundwater in the studied area is affected by the evaporation process. The cation-anion exchange reaction in the studied area demonstrates that 54% of the groundwater samples indicate a direct base(cation-anion) exchange reaction, while 46% of the groundwater samples indicating the chloro-alkaline disequilibrium. Furthermore, generally all of the groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking and irrigation. Cluster analysis reveals two different groups of similarities between the groundwater samples, reflecting different pollution levels in the studied area.展开更多
Background:Bacillary layer detachment(BALAD)is a phenomenon characterized by fluid accumulation at the myoid region of the inner photoreceptor segments identifiable on optical coherence tomography(OCT)imaging.This fin...Background:Bacillary layer detachment(BALAD)is a phenomenon characterized by fluid accumulation at the myoid region of the inner photoreceptor segments identifiable on optical coherence tomography(OCT)imaging.This finding has been recently described in patients with diverse primary diagnoses which share the common feature of serous exudation in the posterior pole.However,thus far there have been very few reports in the literature of BALAD in patients with posterior scleritis.Case Description:A 16-year-old male presented with unilateral vision changes that acutely worsened overnight to significant unilateral vision loss.He was eventually diagnosed with idiopathic posterior scleritis with associated BALAD on OCT.Similar to other reported cases of BALAD,he experienced anatomic restoration of the outer retina followed by good visual recovery after treatment with high dose steroid,ultimately with complete recovery of both retinal anatomy and vision within 4 months.Conclusions:This case provides further evidence that posterior scleritis can be a cause of BALAD.The rapid presentation and excellent visual and anatomical outcome of this case is entirely consistent with known descriptions of BALAD in a variety of other conditions,further supporting the categorization of BALAD as an entity which retinal specialists should be able to recognize as distinct from other forms of intraretinal fluid,retinal detachment,and retinoschisis.展开更多
基金Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science(CCATS)No.NCATS 1UL1TR002377-01+1 种基金Mayo Clinic Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology,No.NIDDK P30DK084567-09Wako Life Sciences,Inc
文摘AIM To assess the performance of BALAD, BALAD-2 and their component biomarkers in predicting outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients after liver transplant.METHODS BALAD score and BALAD-2 class are derived from bilirubin, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP(AFP-L3), and des-gammacarboxyprothrombin(DCP). Pre-transplant AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP were measured in 113 patients transplanted for HCC from 2000 to 2008. Hazard ratios(HR) for recurrence and death were calculated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. C-statistics were used to compare biomarker-based to predictive models. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12.2 years, 38 patients recurred and 87 died. The HRs for recurrence in patients with elevated AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP defined by BALAD cut-off values were 2.42(1.18-5.00), 1.86(0.98-3.52), and 2.83(1.42-5.61), respectively. For BALAD, the HRs for recurrence and death per unit increased score were 1.48(1.15-1.91) and 1.59(1.28-1.97). For BALAD-2, the HRs for recurrence and death per unit increased class were 1.45(1.06-1.98) and 1.38(1.09-1.76). For recurrence prediction, the combination of three biomarkers had the highest c-statistic of 0.66 vs. 0.64, 0.61, 0.53, and 0.53 for BALAD, BALAD-2, Milan, and UCSF, respectively. Similarly, for death prediction, the combination of three biomarkers had the highest c-statistic of 0.66 vs 0.65,0.61, 0.52, and 0.50 for BALAD, BALAD-2, Milan, and UCSF. A new model combining biomarkers with tumor size at the time of transplant(S-LAD) demonstrated the highest predictive capability with c-statistics of 0.71 and 0.69 for recurrence and death. CONCLUSION BALAD and BALAD-2 are valid in transplant HCC patients, but less predictive than the three biomarkers in combination or the three biomarkers in combination with maximal tumor diameter(S-LAD).
文摘The assessment of hydrochemical quality of groundwater is very important to explore its nature and usefulness. In this paper, groundwater quality evaluation is carried out in the Balad district, Salah Al-Din Governorate, Iraq. A total of 28 groundwater samples are collected from shallow tube wells and analyzed for various physicochemical parameters. Groundwater suitability for drinking is evaluated based on the World Health Organization(WHO) and Iraqi standards, and suitability of groundwater for irrigation is assessed based on various hydrochemical parameters. The results reveal that the dominant types of groundwater based on piper diagram are mixed CaMgCl and CaCl. Gibbs ratio indicates that the groundwater in the studied area is affected by the evaporation process. The cation-anion exchange reaction in the studied area demonstrates that 54% of the groundwater samples indicate a direct base(cation-anion) exchange reaction, while 46% of the groundwater samples indicating the chloro-alkaline disequilibrium. Furthermore, generally all of the groundwater samples are unsuitable for drinking and irrigation. Cluster analysis reveals two different groups of similarities between the groundwater samples, reflecting different pollution levels in the studied area.
基金This work was supported by an unrestricted grant to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences from Research to Prevent Blindness.
文摘Background:Bacillary layer detachment(BALAD)is a phenomenon characterized by fluid accumulation at the myoid region of the inner photoreceptor segments identifiable on optical coherence tomography(OCT)imaging.This finding has been recently described in patients with diverse primary diagnoses which share the common feature of serous exudation in the posterior pole.However,thus far there have been very few reports in the literature of BALAD in patients with posterior scleritis.Case Description:A 16-year-old male presented with unilateral vision changes that acutely worsened overnight to significant unilateral vision loss.He was eventually diagnosed with idiopathic posterior scleritis with associated BALAD on OCT.Similar to other reported cases of BALAD,he experienced anatomic restoration of the outer retina followed by good visual recovery after treatment with high dose steroid,ultimately with complete recovery of both retinal anatomy and vision within 4 months.Conclusions:This case provides further evidence that posterior scleritis can be a cause of BALAD.The rapid presentation and excellent visual and anatomical outcome of this case is entirely consistent with known descriptions of BALAD in a variety of other conditions,further supporting the categorization of BALAD as an entity which retinal specialists should be able to recognize as distinct from other forms of intraretinal fluid,retinal detachment,and retinoschisis.
