Evaluating the performance of large language models in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation decision-making.

In a first-of-its-kind study, we assessed the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) in making complex decisions in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The evaluation was conducted not only for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) but also conducted on other artificial intelligence models: PaLm 2 and Llama-2. Using detailed haematological histories that include both clinical, molecular and donor data, we conducted a triple-blind survey to compare LLMs to haematology residents. We found that residents significantly outperformed LLMs (p = 0.02), particularly in transplant eligibility assessment (p = 0.01). Our triple-blind methodology aimed to mitigate potential biases in evaluating LLMs and revealed both their promise and limitations in deciphering complex haematological clinical scenarios.

A Tele-Rehabilitation Platform for Shoulder Motor Function Recovery Using Serious Games and an Azure Kinect Device.

BACKGROUND: Tele-rehabilitation is gaining importance due to the increasing need for objectiveness in the evaluation of patients with impaired motor functions. Low-cost marker-less motion capture systems are becoming key enabling technologies as support in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this work is to investigate the use of the Microsoft Azure Kinect device to develop a tele-rehabilitation platform for shoulder motor function recovery. The platform comprehends a set of serious games, which are fundamental to increase the patients' engagement in shoulder rehabilitation. METHODS: Starting from a set of functionalities identified together with the medical personnel of an Italian hospital, the Azure Kinect device has been used as motion capture system to interact with the serious games. Mobile applications for patients and physicians have been developed to manage the rehabilitation process. RESULTS: The solution has been tested by the involved medical personnel. It has been considered interesting and promising. Further improvements in the design of the virtual environment of the serious games are required. CONCLUSION: The presented platform is a starting point to develop a complete IT solution for the daily shoulder rehabilitation.

Platelet Rich Plasma for Regenerative Medicine Treatment of Bovine Ovarian Hypofunction.

Recent studies on cull cows have shown that ovarian abnormalities, particularly ovarian insufficiency, are the main cause of reproductive failure. The aim of this study was to treat bovine ovarian failure with intraovarian administration of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP), which is rich in growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines that could stimulate follicular growth and steroidogenesis. Twelve cows with ovarian hypofunction were enrolled in the study and they were randomly allocated in control group (CTR) and treated group (six animal for group). In the treated group, only five animals received the PRP treatment because intraovarian administration was hindered in one by a rectovaginal fistula. Animals of control group were treated by intraovarian administration of physiological solution. In the 4 weeks after PRP injection, a mild to strong increase in progesterone (PRG) concentrations was detected in four of the five cows treated. Artificial insemination (AI) resulted in four pregnancies that are still ongoing (7th month). Intraovarian administration of PRP improved ovarian function after 2 months of treatment. This effect may be due to reduction of follicular atresia or to revitalization of dormant oocytes allowing restoration of fertility.

Improvement of Embryo Recovery in Holstein Cows Treated by Intra-Ovarian Platelet Rich Plasma before Superovulation.

The current research was designed to evaluate if intra-ovarian administration of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) before superovulation could increase the number of follicles responsive to gonadotropin treatment in order to improve embryo recovery in donor cows. Eight Holstein-Friesian cows of proven fertility were employed. After estrous synchronization, at the 18th day of diestrous, the right ovary of each cow was left untreated and served as control while the left ovary was inoculated with 5 mL of PRP. Cows were left to spontaneously return to estrous, and nine days later, a standard superovulation was initiated for every cow. Seven days after artificial insemination (AI), putative embryos were collected by flushing the right and left uterine horns separately. All statistics were calculated by ANOVA. The mean number of follicles, evaluated by transrectal ultrasound scanning, did not statistically differ before PRP treatment between right (control) and left (treated) ovaries (9.18 ± 1.35 and 7.32 ± 1.67, p = 0.28, respectively) as well as at 48 hours after PRP injection (7.67 ± 2.52 and 8.00 ± 2.00, p = 0.73, respectively). A statistical (p = 0.023) difference was found in the average number of follicles at the last gonadotropin injection between control and treated ovaries (11.33 ± 2.89 and 20.00 ± 9.17, respectively). The statistically different (p = 0.0037) number of grade 1-2 blastocysts harvested from the uterine horn ipsilateral to control ovaries in comparison to that collected from the treated ones (6.63 ± 2.92 and 14.75 ± 5.92, respectively) suggests that intra-ovarian injection of PRP before superovulation could exert beneficial effects both in latent follicle growth and in vivo embryo production.