Integrated assessment of differentially expressed plasma microRNAs in subtypes of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts include cleft lip only (CLO), cleft palate only (CPO), and cleft lip with palate (CLP). Previously, we reported the expression profile of plasma microRNAs in CLO, CPO, and CLP, respectively. However, the interaction of each subtype remains poorly investigated. METHODS: In this study, we integrated the expression profiles of plasma miRNAs in these 3 subtypes, and assessed the distinct and overlapping dysregulated miRNAs using Venn diagrams. Their respective target genes reported in the literature were further analyzed using pathway analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results showed that distinct or overlapping signaling pathways were involved in CLO, CPO, and CLP. The common key gene targets reflected functional relationships to the Wnt, Notch, TGF-beta, and Hedgehog signaling pathways. Further studies should examine the mechanism of the potential target genes, which may provide new avenues for future clinical prevention and therapy.

A novel human error probability assessment using fuzzy modeling.

Human error is one of the significant factors contributing to accidents. Traditional human error probability (HEP) studies based on fuzzy number concepts are one of the contributions addressing such a problem. It is particularly useful under circumstances where the lack of data exists. However, the degree of the discriminability of such studies may be questioned when applied under circumstances where experts have adequate information and specific values can be determined in the abscissa of the membership function of linguistic terms, that is, the fuzzy data of each scenario considered are close to each other. In this article, a novel HEP assessment aimed at solving such a difficulty is proposed. Under the framework, the fuzzy data are equipped with linguistic terms and membership values. By establishing a rule base for data combination, followed by the defuzzification and HEP transformation processes, the HEP results can be acquired. The methodology is first examined using a test case consisting of three different scenarios of which the fuzzy data are close to each other. The results generated are compared with the outcomes produced from the traditional fuzzy HEP studies using the same test case. It is concluded that the methodology proposed in this study has a higher degree of the discriminability and is capable of providing more reasonable results. Furthermore, in situations where the lack of data exists, the proposed approach is also capable of providing the range of the HEP results based on different risk viewpoints arbitrarily established as illustrated using a real-world example.

[3-Dimensional CT for preoperative measurement and postoperative assessment in craniosynostosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of 3-dimensional (3-D) CT for preoperative measurement and postoperative assessment in craniosynostosis. METHODS: 17 cases with craniosynostosis underwent 3-D CT reconstruction. The 3-D images were used to perform cephalometry. The cases included brachycephalic, caphocephalia, plagiocephaly. The CVAI must be measured for plagiocephaly. Measurement results were compared before and after operation in 9 cases. RESULTS: The bone segments were advanced 1.5 - 3 cm in brachycephalic, retruded 2 - 4 cm in scaphocephalic, moved back and forth about 2 cm in plagiocephaly. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative 3-D CT reconstruction and measurement can be used to design the advancement distance of bone flap and orbito-frontal bone bridge, as well as to estimate the treatment results before operation.