Artificial neural networks to predict future bone mineral density and bone loss rate in Japanese postmenopausal women

Objective

Predictions of the future bone mineral density and bone loss rate are important to tailor medicine for women with osteoporosis, because of the possible presence of personal risk factors affecting the severity of osteoporosis in the future. We investigated whether it was possible to predict bone mineral density and bone loss rate in the future using artificial neural networks.

Results

A total of 135 women over 50 years old residing in T town of Wakayama Prefecture, Japan were analyzed to establish a statistical model. Artificial neural networks models were constructed using the two variables of bone mineral density and bone loss rate. The multiple correlation coefficients between the actual and measured values for lumbar and femoral bone mineral densities in 2003 showed R² = 0.929 and R² = 0.880, respectively, by linear regression analyses, while the values for bone loss rates in lumbar and femoral bone mineral densities were R² = 0.694 and R² = 0.609, respectively. Statistical models by artificial neural networks were superior to those by multiple regression analyses. The prediction of future bone mineral density values estimated by artificial neural networks was considered to be useful as a tool to tailor medicine for the early diagnosis of and intervention for women osteoporosis with women.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-2910-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus with intracystic growth completely confined to the myometrium: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Mesonephric adenocarcinoma (MA) is a rare tumor believed to arise from mesonephric remnants occurring mostly in the uterine cervix and, to a lesser extent, the corpus. Since the first case report of MA in the corpus in 1995, only 16 cases have been reported in the English literature. A recent report suggested that MA originates in Müllerian tissue and exhibits the mesonephric differentiation phenotype.

CASE PRESENTATION

An asymptomatic 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of elevated levels of tumor markers. Imaging revealed an intramural lesion of the uterine corpus exhibiting fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. A total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. The tumor was completely confined to the corpus wall and was composed of an intracystic bulky component and an invasive component in the myometrial layer. The tumor exhibited a variety of growth patterns, including a characteristic tubular pattern with dense eosinophilic secretion reminiscent of the thyroid, as well as a variety of morphologies, such as acinar, papillary, and ductal structures. The structures were immunoreactive for CK7, vimentin, CD10, calretinin, PAX8, and GATA3 and almost completely negative for ER/PgR. CA125 and CA19-9 antigen expression was also detected.

CONCLUSION

A case of MA with a unique growth pattern of an intracystic mass within the corpus wall is presented. The histogenesis and differential diagnoses are discussed. The histogenesis of MA is not yet clear. We hypothesize two different pathways involved: 1) direct development from the mesonephric remnants and/or 2) mesonephric transformation of Müllerian adenocarcinoma.

Postoperative administration of dienogest for suppressing recurrence of disease and relieving pain in subjects with ovarian endometriomas

To assess the effect of dienogest on recurrence of ovarian endometriomas and severity of pain after laparoscopic surgery, a retrospective study of 81 patients was performed at three institutions in Osaka, Japan. Patients had a six-month minimum follow-up after laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriomas performed between June 2012 and August 2014. Patients who chose to receive 2 mg dienogest daily and those who were managed expectantly postoperatively were included. Recurrence was defined as the presence of endometriomas of more than 2 cm. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to score the intensity of pelvic pain. The cumulative recurrence rate and absolute VAS score changes between the baseline and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the start of administration were evaluated in both groups. The recurrence rate was 16.5% and 24.0% in the expectant management group at 12 and 24 months, respectively. No recurrences occurred in the dienogest treatment group. The rate of VAS score reduction was significantly higher in the dienogest than in the expectant management group. Dienogest is effective on the recurrence of ovarian endometrioma and relieving pelvic pain after laparoscopic surgery.

Assessment of age-specific safety of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with ovarian tumors

AIM

We assessed the age-specific safety of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with ovarian tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 elderly patients treated by laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy under the diagnosis of an ovarian tumor between January 2009 and December 2014. We divided patients into three groups: "young-elderly" (aged 65-74), "old-elderly" (aged 75-84), and "super-elderly" (aged 85-105) and assessed clinical characteristics, surgical results and postoperative course. Statistical significance of categorical variables was examined by the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher's exact test. Multiple regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Of a total of 55 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, there were 36 patients in the young-elderly group, 17 in the old-elderly group, and two in the super-elderly group. Statistical analysis was performed between the young-elderly and the old-elderly groups because of the small number in the super-elderly group. More frequent comorbidities were found in the patients in the old-elderly than in the young-elderly group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.007). There were no significant differences in operative time, estimated blood loss and postoperative hospital stay between the young-elderly and old-elderly groups. Intraoperative complications only occurred in the young-elderly group. Postoperative complications occurred in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although patients in the old-elderly group had a significantly higher risk for surgery, they had equivalent surgical results to the young-elderly group for laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy.

Reduction of aquaporin-8 on fetal membranes under oligohydramnios in mice lacking prostaglandin F2α receptor

AIM

To investigate the association between aquaporin-8 (AQP-8: a water channel protein) expression in fetal membranes and oligohydramnios during near-term and postdate pregnancy, we set up an oligohydramnios model using prostaglandin F2 alpha receptor (FP)-deficient mice.

METHODS

Pregnant FP-deficient mice from 14 to 21 gestational days (GD) were killed to measure the amniotic fluid volume (AFV), and fetal membranes were collected for the analysis of aquaporin-8 expression.

RESULTS

The AFV was highest at 14 GD, and was significantly decreased to 28% and 0% at 20 GD and 21 GD, respectively, compared with the volume at 14 GD. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis showed that aquaporin-8 was expressed in the basal component of fetal membranes, and that the protein level was significantly decreased to 60% at 20 GD compared with that at 14 GD.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that AQP-8 expression in the fetal membrane was decreased at post term in FP-deficient mice. Our findings suggest that aquaporin-8 in fetal membranes may be involved in the regulation of AFV, especially when oligohydramnios occurs.

The effects of repeated corticosteroid administration on the neurogenesis in the neonatal rat

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects on the brain including neurogenesis pretreated with repeated doses of dexamethasone in the neonatal rat.

STUDY DESIGN

The 4-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were pretreated with 4 different regimens, namely, single administration of dexamethasone, 2-dose administration, 3-dose administration, and saline administration as a control. Concurrently, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), which was incorporated into the dividing cells, was administered. We examined body weight, brain weight, and the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ), the subgranular zone (SGZ), and the cortex.

RESULTS

Both the body and brain weight of the rats pretreated with dexamethasone were significantly decreased compared with those given saline. Quantitative analysis of BrdU-labeled cells revealed the significant dose-dependent decreases in the SVZ, the SGZ, and the cortex with the dexamethasone treatment.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the decreases in neurogenesis caused by repeated antenatal corticosteroid therapy might result in the adverse effects on the size of the head at birth.

Expression of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube and of CX3CR1 in sperm

BACKGROUND

Fractalkine is a CX(3)C chemokine that has chemoattractant activity for T cells, monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. The objective of this study was 2-fold: to evaluate (i) the presence of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube and (ii) the existence of CX(3)CR1 (fractalkine receptor) in ejaculated sperm.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Western blot analysis revealed that fractalkine protein was detected as a 95 kDa band in the isthmus, the ampulla and the infundibulum of the Fallopian tube. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining of epithelial cells in the Fallopian tube. RT-PCR demonstrated that fractalkine transcripts were expressed in all parts of the Fallopian tube. RT-PCR also revealed that CX(3)CR1-positive cells were present in the Fallopian tube. CX(3)CR1-positive cells were present in the stroma of the Fallopian tube. The villi of the ciliated cells were positively stained. To determine the function of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube, we examined whether CX(3)CR1 was present in ejaculated sperm. RT-PCR demonstrated that CX(3)CR1 transcripts were expressed in the ejaculated sperm. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining of the tail of the spermatozoa.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that fractalkine in the Fallopian tube contributes to the immunodefence mechanism during fertilization and to the sperm motion in the oviduct.

Serial transvaginal sonography of a case of complete hydatidiform mole

Sonography has achieved a position of preeminence in the diagnostic evaluation of molar gestation. However, little information is available about the serial change of the transvaginal sonographic features of molar pregnancy. We describe a case of complete hydatidiform mole, and present serial transvaginal views taken during the early gestational period.