Detecting PCOS susceptibility loci from genome-wide association studies via iterative trend correlation based feature screening

Background

Feature screening plays a critical role in handling ultrahigh dimensional data analyses when the number of features exponentially exceeds the number of observations. It is increasingly common in biomedical research to have case-control (binary) response and an extremely large-scale categorical features. However, the approach considering such data types is limited in extant literature. In this article, we propose a new feature screening approach based on the iterative trend correlation (ITC-SIS, for short) to detect important susceptibility loci that are associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affection status by screening 731,442 SNP features that were collected from the genome-wide association studies.

Results

We prove that the trend correlation based screening approach satisfies the theoretical strong screening consistency property under a set of reasonable conditions, which provides an appealing theoretical support for its outperformance. We demonstrate that the finite sample performance of ITC-SIS is accurate and fast through various simulation designs.

Conclusion

ITC-SIS serves as a good alternative method to detect disease susceptibility loci for clinic genomic data.

Deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area in intractable short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT)

Background: SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing) is a rare syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain that is accompanied by conjunctival injection and lacrimation or further autonomic signs. Similar to patients with chronic cluster headache, Leone and Lyons showed a beneficial effect of deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic region in two patients with a chronic SUNCT.

Case: Here, we present the case of a man with a chronic SUNCT responding to deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area.

Conclusion: This case supports the idea of a central origin of SUNCT and shows that deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic region can be effective in the treatment of the chronic form of this rare disorder.

Establishment of an HIV/sexually transmitted disease programme and prevalence of infection among incarcerated men in Jamaica

The goal of this study is to describe the establishment of an HIV testing and treatment programme in the Jamaican correctional system and to estimate the prevalence of HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) among adult incarcerated men in this country. A demonstration project was implemented by the Jamaican Department of Correctional Services and Ministry of Health in the nation's largest correctional centre. All inmates were offered HIV and syphilis testing, and a subset was offered chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis testing. Cross-sectional data from the project were reviewed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HIV/STD. HIV test acceptance was 63% for voluntary testers (n = 1200). The prevalence of HIV was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.33-4.64) (n = 1017) and the prevalence syphilis was 0.7% (95% CI 0.29-1.49) (n = 967). Among the subset tested (n = 396) the prevalence of chlamydia was 2.5% (95% CI 1.22-4.49) and for trichomoniasis it was 1.8% (95% CI 0.01-3.60), but no cases of gonorrhoea were detected (n = 396). The prevalence of HIV was significantly higher at 25% (95% CI 13.64-39.60) for persons located in a separate section where individuals labelled as men who have sex with men (MSM) are separated. HIV/STD testing is important and feasible in Jamaica. A special focus should be placed on providing services to inmates labelled as MSM. Other Caribbean nations may also benefit from similar programmes.

The influence of pallidal deep brain stimulation on striatal dopaminergic metabolism in the rat

Deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus has been recently shown to alleviate parkinsonian symptoms and levodopa-induced dyskinesias. However, its exact mechanisms of action are unclear. Pallidal neurones are connected via various pathways to the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. In the present study we investigated the hypothesis that deep brain stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus (corresponds to the human internal pallidum) affects striatal dopaminergic metabolism in naive and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats using microdialysis. Our results show that stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus does not significantly affect striatal dopamine metabolism (of dopamine, 3, 4-dihdroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid) in naive and 6-OHDA-lesioned animals. They contrast with our previous observations that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus increases striatal dopamine metabolism suggesting differential effects of these nuclei on striatal dopamine metabolism.

Influence of Concentration of Soda Ash, Temperature, and Immersion Period on the Control of Postharvest Green Mold of Oranges

Oranges were inoculated with spores of Penicillium digitatum, the citrus green mold pathogen, and immersed 24 h later in heated soda ash (Na₂CO₃, sodium carbonate) solutions to control postharvest citrus green mold. Oranges were immersed for 1 or 2 min in solutions containing 0, 2, 4, or 6% (wt/vol) soda ash heated to 35.0, 40.6, 43.3, or 46.1°C. After 3 weeks of storage at 10°C, the number of decayed oranges was determined. Soda ash significantly controlled green mold in every test. The most effective control of green mold was obtained at 40.6 or 43.3°C with 4 or 6% soda ash. The concentration of soda ash greatly influenced efficacy, whereas the influences of temperature or immersion period on soda ash efficacy were small. Solutions of 4 and 6% soda ash were similar in efficacy and provided superior control of green mold compared with 2% soda ash. The control of green mold by soda ash solutions heated to 40.6 or 43.3°C was slightly superior to control by solutions heated to 35.0 or 46.1°C. The control of green mold by 1-min immersion of inoculated oranges in heated soda ash solutions was inferior to immersion for 2 min, but the magnitude of the difference, particularly with 6% soda ash, was small. A second-order response surface model without interactions was developed that closely described the influence of soda ash concentration, temperature, and immersion period on efficacy. The efficacy of soda ash under commercial conditions was better than that predicted by the model, probably because under commercial conditions the fruit were rinsed less thoroughly with water after treatment than in laboratory tests. The primary finding of this work was that soda ash controlled 24-h-old green mold infections at commercially useful levels using shorter immersion periods and lower temperatures than those recommended by other workers for the use of soda ash on lemons. The oranges were not visibly injured in any test.

Guidelines for developing a new standard in hospice care

Hospice care has been overlooked by many in the medical community. This is partly due to the nature of medical training; it could be overcome by the development of industry guidelines by which to measure quality of care.

Knob antigen deposition in cerebral malaria

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes attach to the endothelial cells via electron-dense knobs and this attachment has been suggested as one of the contributing factors in the development of cerebral malaria. Monoclonal antibodies against an 80-95 Kd knob protein were prepared and applied to brain tissue from cerebral malaria patients. The deposition of the 80-95 Kd knob protein antibodies was observed in the basement membrane of cerebral capillaries by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method. This result indicates involvement of knob protein deposition in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.

Collection of food intake data: an evaluation of methods

Using USDA's recently completed methodological survey designed to evaluate longitudinal measures of food intake, the authors assessed nine methods for measuring dietary status. Methods evaluated included various combinations of prospective and retrospective recording of daily intake; personal, telephone, and mail- and telephone-assisted reporting; semistructured and open-ended recording documents; and number and spacing of days for recording intakes. Results from tabular and regression analyses indicated that the most effective and least costly methods for assessing mean intakes for groups of individuals were those using telephone and/or personal contact and collecting 24-hour recalls for several selected nonconsecutive days during the survey period. More specifically, it was concluded that the method including an initial personal interview for 24-hour recall followed by three telephone interviews for 24-hour recalls over a 1-year period and the method including four telephone interviews for 24-hour recalls for a 1-year period provided food energy intake data comparable with the data collected with other methods and with less effort or cost. Additional analyses were recommended to determine the numbers of days required to obtain estimates of usual intake for individuals and for diet components other than food energy.