Sensor-based activity recognition using extended belief rule-based inference methodology

The recently developed extended belief rule-based inference methodology (RIMER+) recognizes the need of modeling different types of information and uncertainty that usually coexist in real environments. A home setting with sensors located in different rooms and on different appliances can be considered as a particularly relevant example of such an environment, which brings a range of challenges for sensor-based activity recognition. Although RIMER+ has been designed as a generic decision model that could be applied in a wide range of situations, this paper discusses how this methodology can be adapted to recognize human activities using binary sensors within smart environments. The evaluation of RIMER+ against other state-of-the-art classifiers in terms of accuracy, efficiency and applicability was found to be significantly relevant, specially in situations of input data incompleteness, and it demonstrates the potential of this methodology and underpins the basis to develop further research on the topic.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis CwsA overproduction modulates cell division and cell wall synthesis

We recently showed that two small membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, CwsA and CrgA, interact with each other, and that loss of CwsA in M. smegmatis is associated with defects in the cell division and cell wall synthesis processes. Here we show that CwsA overproduction also affected growth, cell division and cell shape of M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis. CwsA overproduction in M. tuberculosis led to increased sensitivity to cefsulodin, a penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1A/1B targeting beta (β) -lactam, but was unaffected by other β-lactams and vancomycin. A M. smegmatis cwsA overexpressing strain showed bulgy cells, increased fluorescent vancomycin staining and altered localization of Wag31-mCherry fusion protein. However, the levels of phosphorylated Wag31, important for optimal peptidoglycan synthesis and growth in mycobacteria, were not affected. Interestingly, CwsA overproduction in E. coli led to the formation of large rounded cells that eventually lysed whereas the overproduction of FtsZ along with CwsA reversed this phenotype. Together, our results emphasize that optimal levels of CwsA are required for regulated cell wall synthesis, hence maintenance of cell shape, and that CwsA likely interacts with and modulates the activities of other cell wall synthetic components including PBPs.

Safety and Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Recurrent Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases after Hepatectomy

INTRODUCTION

To assess the results and outcome of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of recurrent colorectal liver metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2005 and September 2012, we treated 59 patients with recurrent colorectal metastases not amenable to surgery with 77 radiofrequency ablation procedures. Radiofrequency was indicated if oncologic resection was technically not possible or the patient was not fit for major surgery. A total of 91 lesions were treated. The mean number of liver tumors per patient was 1.5, and the mean tumor diameter was 2.3 cm. In 37.5% of the cases, lesions had a subcapsular location, and 34% were close to a vascular structure.

RESULTS

The morbidity rate was 18.7%, and there were no post-procedural deaths. Distant extrahepatic recurrence appeared in 50% of the patients. Local recurrence at the site of ablation appeared in 18% of the lesions. Local recurrence rate was 6% in lesions less than 3 cm and 52% in lesions larger than 3 cm. The size of the lesions (more than 3 cm) was an independent risk factor for local recurrence (p < 0.05). Survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 94.5%, 65.3%, and 21.7%, respectively.

DISCUSSION

Radiofrequency ablation is a safe procedure and allows local tumor control in lesions less than 30 mm (local recurrence of 6%) and provides survival benefits in patients with recurrent colorectal liver metastases.

Improved electronic coupling in hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites employing thiol-functionalized P3HT and bismuth sulfide nanocrystals

In this study, we employ a thiol-functionalized polymer (P3HT-SH) as a leverage to tailor the nanomorphology and electronic coupling in polymer-nanocrystal composites for hybrid solar cells. The presence of the thiol functional group allows for a highly crystalline semiconducting polymer film at low thiol content and allows for improved nanomorphologies in hybrid organic-inorganic systems when employing non-toxic bismuth sulfide nanocrystals. The exciton dissociation efficiency and carrier dynamics at this hybrid heterojunction are investigated through photoluminescence quenching and transient absorption spectroscopy measurements, revealing a larger degree of polaron formation when P3HT-SH is employed, suggesting an increased electronic interaction between the metal chalcogenide nanocrystals and the thiol-functionalized P3HT. The fabricated photovoltaic devices show 15% higher power conversion efficiencies as a result of the improved nanomorphology and better charge transfer mechanism together with the higher open circuit voltages arising from the deeper energy levels of P3HT-SH.

Differential immunoglobulin class-mediated responses to components of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle in systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper is to determine whether patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) possess differential IgM- and IgG-specific reactivity against peptides from the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP).

METHODS

The IgM- and IgG-mediated responses against 15 peptides from subunits of the U1 snRNP were assessed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in sera from patients with SLE and MCTD and healthy individuals (n = 81, 41, and 31, respectively). Additionally, 42 laboratory tests and 40 clinical symptoms were evaluated to uncover potential differences. Binomial logistic regression analyses (BLR) were performed to construct models to support the independent nature of SLE and MCTD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves corroborated the classification power of the models.

RESULTS

We analyzed IgM and IgG anti-U1 snRNP titers to classify SLE and MCTD patients. IgG anti-U1 snRNP reactivity segregates SLE and MCTD from nondisease controls with an accuracy of 94.1% while IgM-specific anti-U1 snRNP responses distinguish SLE from MCTD patients with an accuracy of 71.3%. Comparison of the IgG and IgM anti-U1 snRNP approach with clinical tests used for diagnosing SLE and MCTD revealed that our method is the best classification tool of those analyzed (p ≤ 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our IgM anti-U1 snRNP system along with lab tests and symptoms provide additional molecular and clinical evidence to support the hypothesis that SLE and MCTD may be distinct syndromes.

Long-term administration of the TNF blocking drug Remicade (cV1q) to mdx mice reduces skeletal and cardiac muscle fibrosis, but negatively impacts cardiac function

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative skeletal muscle disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin (DYS). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis since short-term treatment of mdx mice with TNF blocking drugs proved beneficial; however, it is not clear whether long-term treatment will also improve long-term outcomes of fibrosis and cardiac health. In this investigation, short and long-term dosing studies were carried out using the TNF blocking drug Remicade and a variety of outcome measures were assessed. Here we show no demonstrable benefit to muscle strength or morphology with 10mg/kg or 20mg/kg Remicade; however, 3mg/kg produced positive strength benefits. Remicade treatment correlated with reductions in myostatin mRNA in the heart, and concomitant reductions in cardiac and skeletal fibrosis. Surprisingly, although Remicade treated mdx hearts were less fibrotic, reductions in LV mass and ejection fraction were also observed, and these changes coincided with reductions in AKT phosphorylation on threonine 308. Thus, TNF blockade benefits mdx skeletal muscle strength and fibrosis, but negatively impacts AKT activation, leading to deleterious changes to dystrophic heart function. These studies uncover a previously unknown relationship between TNF blockade and alteration of muscle growth signaling pathways.

Abstract P2-05-01: Induction of PELP1 expression in mammary gland promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing CDK-CyclinD1 signaling

Introduction: Estrogen receptor coregulator over-expression promotes carcinogenesis and/or progression of endocrine related-cancers where steroid hormones are powerful mitogenic agents. Recent studies in our laboratory as well as others demonstrated that PELP1 is a proto-oncogene and a prognostic indicator of decreased survival in breast cancer patients. Recent studies indicated that PELP1 is needed for optimal epigenetic modifications at ER target genes and PELP1 interactions with KDM1 play a key role in PELP1 mediated oncogenic functions. However, the in vivo significance of PELP1 deregulation during initiation and progression of breast cancer remains unknown. The objective of this study is determine the molecular mechanisms by which PELP1 regulate breast cancer progression in vivo.

Method: To determine the significance of PELP1 over-expression in mammary tumorigenesis, we used an inducible, tissue-specific PELP1 expressing transgenic mouse. Mammary epithelial-specific expression of PELP1 was validated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. PELP1-mediated morphological and histological changes were analyzed by examining carmine-stained whole mounts and H&E-stained paraffin embedded mammary glands sections. Differential expression of breast cancer-focused genes between wild type and PELP1 transgenic mammary glands was determined using real-time RT2 Profiler PCR array. Proliferation was analyzed using Ki-67 immuno staining. RTqPCR, Western and IHC analysis were used to confirm the changes in the expression of PELP1 regulated genes.

Results: We observed an increase in proliferation, extensive side branching and precocious differentiation in PELP1 expressing mammary gland compared to controls. Aged MMTVrtTA-TetOPELP1 bitransgenic mice revealed hyperplasia and preneoplastic changes as early as 12 weeks and mammary tumors occurred at a latency of 10.5 months. Mechanistic studies using tissues from control and PELP1 transgenic mice revealed that PELP1 deregulation modulates expression of a number of known ER target genes involved in cellular proliferation (such as cyclin D1, CDKs) and morphogenesis (EGFR, MMPs) and such changes facilitated altered mammary gland morphogenesis and tumor progression. Western and IHC analysis of mammary glands confirmed upregulation of CDK and Cyclin D1 protein levels in PELP1 Tg mice. Further, PELP1 is hyperphosphorylated at CDK phosphorylation site in PELP1 (Ser 991), suggesting an autocrine loop involving CDk-CyclinD1-PELP1 axis in promoting mammary tumorigenesis. Treatment of PELP1 Tg mice with pargyline, an inhibitor of KDM1 for four months significantly reduced PELP1 driven hyperplasia. Mechanistic studies revealed that pargyline treatment reduced cyclin D1 expression levels and substantially reduced CDK driven PELP1 phosphorylation.

Conclusions: PELP1 deregulation modulates expression of a number of known ER target genes and cancer promoting genes. PELP1 mediated epigenetic changes via KDM1 play role in PELP1 oncogenic functions in vivo. Collectively, these results support that PELP1 deregulation has potential to promote breast tumorigenesis in vivo.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-05-01.

Fear of falling, fracture history, and comorbidities are associated with health-related quality of life among European and US women with osteoporosis in a large international study

We studied 7,897 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis to assess factors that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL). An increased number of comorbidities, fear of falling, and previous vertebral fracture were associated with significant reductions in HRQoL. Understanding the factors that affect HRQoL may improve management of these patients.

INTRODUCTION

HRQoL is impaired in women treated for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, comorbidities, medical history, patient demographics, and HRQoL in women with PMO.

METHODS

Baseline data were obtained and combined from two large and similar multinational observational studies: Prospective Observational Scientific Study Investigating Bone Loss Experience in Europe (POSSIBLE EU®) and in the US (POSSIBLE US™) including postmenopausal women in primary care settings initiating or switching bone loss treatment, or who had been on bone loss treatment for some time. HRQoL measured by health utility scores (EQ-5D™) were available for 7,897 women (94 % of study participants). The relationship between HRQoL and baseline clinical characteristics, medical history and patient demographics was assessed using parsimonious, multivariable, mixed-model analyses.

RESULTS

Median health utility score was 0.80 (interquartile range 0.69-1.00). In multivariable analyses, young age, low body mass index, previous vertebral fracture, increased number of comorbidities, high fear of falling, and depression were associated with reduced HRQoL. Regression-based model estimates showed that previous vertebral fracture was associated with lower health utility scores by 0.08 (10.3 %) and demonstrated the impact of multiple comorbidities and of fear of falling on HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large observational study of women with PMO, there was substantial interindividual variability in HRQoL. An increased number of comorbidities, fear of falling, and previous vertebral fracture were associated with significant reductions in HRQoL.

Generating reference models for structurally complex data. Application to the stabilometry medical domain

OBJECTIVES

We present a framework specially designed to deal with structurally complex data, where all individuals have the same structure, as is the case in many medical domains. A structurally complex individual may be composed of any type of single-valued or multivalued attributes, including time series, for example. These attributes are structured according to domain-dependent hierarchies. Our aim is to generate reference models of population groups. These models represent the population archetype and are very useful for supporting such important tasks as diagnosis, detecting fraud, analyzing patient evolution, identifying control groups, etc.

METHODS

We have developed a conceptual model to represent structurally complex data hierarchically. Additionally, we have devised a method that uses the similarity tree concept to measure how similar two structurally complex individuals are, plus an outlier detection and filtering method. These methods provide the groundwork for the method that we have designed for generating reference models of a set of structurally complex individuals. A key idea of this method is to use event-based analysis for modeling time series.

RESULTS

The proposed framework has been applied to the medical field of stabilometry. To validate the outlier detection method we used 142 individuals, and there was a match between the outlier ratings by the experts and by the system for 139 individuals (97.8%). To validate the reference model generation method, we applied k-fold cross validation (k = 5) with 60 athletes (basketball players and ice-skaters), and the system correctly classified 55 (91.7%). We then added 30 non-athletes as a control group, and the method output the correct result in a very high percentage of cases (96.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

We have achieved very satisfactory results for the tests on data from such a complex domain as stabilometry and for the comparison of the reference model generation method with other methods. This supports the validity of this framework.

Preservation of the native spleen in multivisceral transplantation

The native spleen is usually removed in patients undergoing MTV. The consequential asplenic state is associated with a high risk of sepsis, especially in immunosuppressed children. In contrast, the inclusion of an allogeneic spleen in multivisceral grafts has been associated with a high incidence of GVHD. We propose an alternative technique for patients undergoing MTV, consisting of the preservation of the native spleen. This approach avoids the additional risk of infection that characterizes the asplenic state without the detrimental side effects of the allogeneic spleen.

Genetic testing of sperm donors for cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy: evaluation of clinical utility

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical utility of genetic testing for cystic fibrosis (CF) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in sperm donors.

STUDY DESIGN

We studied the results of the genetic tests for CF and SMA applied to 372 sperm donor candidates. The CF carrier screening test analysed 32 mutations on the CFTR gene. Regarding SMA, the carrier test studied possible deletions of SMN1/2 by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) methodology.

RESULTS

The carrier frequency obtained was greater for SMA than for CF. After adjusting the results obtained for the sensitivity of the tests, and taking into account the prevalence of female carriers in our population, the probability of transmission of the disease to the child from a donor with a negative genetic test was about five times lower in the case of SMA than in CF, although this difference was not statistically significant. The number of donors needed to screen (NNS) to avoid the occurrence of a child being affected by CF and SMA in our population was similar in both cases (1591 vs. 1536).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the need to include SMA among the diseases for which genetic screening is performed in the process of sperm donor selection. We believe that testing donors for SMA is as important and as useful as doing so for CF.