Artificial intelligence technology for diagnosing COVID-19 cases: a review of substantial issues.

Today, the world suffers from the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has claimed thousands of lives. Unfortunately, its treatment is yet to be developed. Nevertheless, this phenomenon can be decelerated by diagnosing and quarantining patients with COVID-19 at early stages, thereby saving numerous lives. In this study, the early diagnosis of this disease through artificial intelligence (AI) technology is explored. AI is a revolutionizing technology that drives new research opportunities in various fields. Although this study does not provide a final solution, it highlights the most promising lines of research on AI technology for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The major contribution of this work is a discussion on the following substantial issues of AI technology for preventing the severe effects of COVID-19: (1) rapid diagnosis and detection, (2) outbreak and prediction of virus spread, and (3) potential treatments. This study profoundly investigates these controversial research topics to achieve a precise, concrete, and concise conclusion. Thus, this study provides significant recommendations on future research directions related to COVID-19.

Rate and prognosis of patients under conscious sedation requiring emergent intubation during neuroendovascular procedures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroendovascular procedures are performed with the patient under conscious sedation (local anesthesia) in varying numbers of patients in different institutions, though the risk of unplanned conversion to general anesthesia is poorly characterized. Our aim was to ascertain the rate of failure of conscious sedation in patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures and compare the in-hospital outcomes of patients who were converted from conscious sedation to general anesthesia with those whose procedures were initiated with general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who had an endovascular procedure initiated under general anesthesia or conscious sedation were identified through a prospective data base maintained at 2 comprehensive stroke centers. Patient clinical and procedural characteristics, in-hospital deaths, and favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) at discharge were ascertained. RESULTS: Nine hundred seven endovascular procedures were identified, of which 387 were performed with the patient under general anesthesia, while 520 procedures were initiated with conscious sedation. Among procedures initiated with intent to be performed under conscious sedation, 9 (1.7%) procedures required emergent conversion to general anesthesia. Favorable clinical outcome and in-hospital mortality in patients requiring emergent conversion from conscious sedation to general anesthesia and in those with procedures initiated with general anesthesia were not statistically different (42% versus 50%, P = .73 and 17% versus 13%, P = 1.00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, there was a very low rate of conscious sedation failure and associated adverse outcomes among patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures. Proper patient selection is important if procedures are to be performed with the patient under conscious sedation. Limitations of the methodology used in our study preclude us from offering specific recommendations regarding when to use a specific anesthetic protocol.

Microcatheter to recanalization (procedure time) predicts outcomes in endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke: when do we stop?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke consists of various mechanical and pharmacologic modalities used for recanalization of arterial occlusions. We performed this study to determine the relationship among procedure time, recanalization, and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular treatment during a 6-year period. Demographic characteristics, NIHSS score before and 24 hours after the procedure, and discharge mRS score were ascertained. Procedure time was defined by the time interval between microcatheter placement and recanalization or completion of the procedure. We estimated the procedure time after which favorable clinical outcome was unlikely, even after adjustment for age, time from symptom onset, and admission NIHSS scores. RESULTS: We analyzed 209 patients undergoing endovascular treatment (mean age, 65 ± 16 years; 109 [52%] men; mean admission/preprocedural NIHSS score, 15.3 ± 6.8). Complete or partial recanalization was observed in 176 (84.2%) patients, while unfavorable outcome (mRS 3-6) was observed in 138 (66%) patients at discharge. In univariate analysis, patients with procedure time ≤30 minutes had lower rates of unfavorable outcome at discharge compared with patients with procedure time ≥30 minutes (52.3% versus 72.2%, P = .0049). In our analysis, the rates of favorable outcomes in endovascularly treated patients after 60 minutes were lower than rates observed with placebo treatment in the Prourokinase for Acute Ischemic Stroke Trial. In logistic regression analysis, unfavorable outcome was positively associated with age (P = .0012), admission NIHSS strata (P = .0017), and longer procedure times (P = .0379). CONCLUSIONS: Procedure time in patients with acute ischemic stroke appears to be a critical determinant of outcomes following endovascular treatment. This highlights the need for procedure time guidelines for patients being considered for endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke.

Requirements for emergent neurosurgical procedures among patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures in contemporary practice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Provisions for an emergent neurosurgical procedure have been a mandatory component of centers that perform neuroendovascular procedures. We sought to determine the need for emergent neurosurgical procedures following neuroendovascular interventions in 2 comprehensive stroke centers in settings with such provisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of retrospectively collected data from procedure logs and patient charts was performed to identify patients who required immediate (before the termination of the intervention) or adjunctive (within 24 hours of the intervention) neurosurgical procedures related to a neuroendovascular intervention complication. The types of neurosurgical procedures and in-hospital outcomes of identified patients are reported as an aggregate and per endovascular procedure-type analyses. RESULTS: We reviewed a total of 933 neuroendovascular procedures performed during 3.5 years (2006-2010). A total of 759 intracranial procedures were performed. There was a need for emergent neurosurgical procedures in 8 patients (0.85% cumulative incidence and 1.05% for major intracranial procedures) (mean age, 46 years; 7 were women); the procedures were categorized as 3 immediate and 5 adjunctive procedures. There were 5 in-hospital deaths (62.5%) among these 8 patients. Neurosurgical procedures performed were external ventricular drainage placement in 6 (6 of 8, 75%) patients, decompressive craniectomy in 1 (12.5%) patient, and both surgical procedures in 1 (12.5%) patient. CONCLUSIONS: The need for emergent neurosurgical procedures is very low among patients undergoing intracranial neuroendovascular procedures. Survival in such patients despite emergent neurosurgical procedures is quite low.

Prescription practices of public and private health care providers in Attock District of Pakistan.

The irrational use of drugs is a major problem of present day medical practice and its consequences include the development of resistance to antibiotics, ineffective treatment, adverse effects and an economic burden on the patient and society. A study from Attock District of Pakistan assessed this problem in the formal allopathic health sector and compared prescribing practices of health care providers in the public and private sector. WHO recommended drug use indicators were used to study prescription practices. Prescriptions were collected from 60 public and 48 private health facilities. The mean (+/- SE) number of drugs per prescription was 4.1 +/- 0.06 for private and 2.7 +/- 0.04 for public providers (p < 0.0001). General practitioners (GPs) who represent the private sector prescribed at least one antibiotic in 62% of prescriptions compared with 54% for public sector providers. Over 48% of GP prescriptions had at least one injectable drug compared with 22.0% by public providers (p < 0.0001). Thirteen percent of GP prescriptions had two or more injections. More than 11% of GP prescriptions had an intravenous infusion compared with 1% for public providers (p < 0.001). GPs prescribed three or more oral drugs in 70% of prescriptions compared with 44% for public providers (p < 0.0001). Prescription practices were analysed for four health problems, acute respiratory infection (ARI), childhood diarrhoea (CD), fever in children and fever in adults. For these disorders, both groups prescribed antibiotics generously, however, GPs prescribed them more frequently in ARI, CD and fever in children (p < 0.01). GPs prescribed steroids more frequently, however, it was significantly higher in ARI cases (p < 0.001). For all the four health problems studied, GPs prescribed injections more frequently than public providers (p < 0.001). In CD cases GPs prescribed oral rehydration salt (ORS) less frequently (33.3%) than public providers (57.7%). GPs prescribed intravenous infusion in 12.3% cases of fever in adults compared with none by public providers (p < 0.001). A combination of non-regulatory and regulatory interventions, directed at providers as well as consumers, would need to be implemented to improve prescription practices of health care providers. Regulation alone would be ineffective unless it is supported by a well-established institutional mechanism which ensures effective implementation. The Federal Ministry of Health and the Provincial Departments of Health have to play a critical role in this respect, while the role of the Pakistan Medical Association in self-regulation of prescription practices can not be overemphasized. Improper prescription practices will not improve without consumer targeted interventions that educate and empower communities regarding the hazards of inappropriate drug use.

Discordant pulmonary proinflammatory cytokine expression during acute hyperoxia in the newborn rabbit.

Newborn animals are resistant to oxygen toxicity. To investigate this phenomenon, the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured during newborn rabbit hyperoxic lung injury. Pups were exposed to > 95% O2 for 8-9 days, followed by 60% O2 until 36 days of age. Lung lavage fluid, RNA, and tissue sections were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 22, and 36 days. Acute inflammation occurred by 6-10 days of hyperoxia, and fibrosis by 22 days. Northern hybridization of lung homogenates from hyperoxia-exposed pups showed elevated MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNA expression at 6 and 10 days, respectively, compared to age-matched, air-exposed controls. Lavage fluid IL-8 protein also peaked at 10 days, and was strongly correlated to neutrophil numbers in lavage. In situ hybridization revealed elevated IL-1 beta mRNA in macrophages, alveolar epithelial and interstitial cells at 2-10 days, elevated MCP-1 mRNA in similar cell types at 4-8 days, and elevated IL-8 mRNA in these cells and neutrophils at 4-10 days. IL-1 beta and IL-8 expression peaked during peak inflammation, whereas peak MCP-1 expression preceded macrophage influx. Comparing newborn and adult animals' chemokine response may help explain their differences in hyperoxia susceptibility.

Meningococcal disease: Clinical profile of 99 patients.

Ninety-nine patients with meningcoccal disease were admitted to the medical department of King Fahd Hospital, Medina during the Haj season of 1407H. (August 1987G). Neisseria meningitidis group A (Clone III-I) was responsible for this outbreak. This bacteria was brought into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the pilgrims from South Asia who were carriers of the disease. Middle age and elderly seemed to be vulnerable to meningococcal disease. The majority of the patients presented with fever, headache, vomiting, skin rash, and signs of meningeal irritation. Diabetics afflicted with meningococcal disease fared badly; of 13 diabetics in the study, eight died. The mortality rate in our patients was 12.1%, a figure comparing favorably with other studies. The factors which influenced mortality included age above 50, shock, coma, renal failure, DIC, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, female sex and other associated diseases. The outbreak was successfully controlled by mass vaccination with polyvalent vaccine of the pilgrims and local population along with chemoprophylaxis with rifampicin.

Clinical and biochemical study of 114 cases of cholelithiasis.

During a period of 16 months 114 patients with cholelithiasis were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed by cholecystogram in 41 cases, by surgery in 28 and both surgery and the x-ray in 45 cases. There were 100 females and 14 males and their average age was 43.2 years. The average number of pregnancies in females was 6.5. Clinically the jaundice was observed in 9% and the gall bladder was palpable in 47% of cases. Cholelithiasis appeared to be related to increased parity but not to the body weight.

Gall-stone composition and biochemical alterations in the serum of patients with cholelithiasis.

The levels of cholesterol, calcium and bilirubin were determined in the serum and gall stones in 47 cases with cholelithiasis. The mixed stones were observed in 87.5%, high cholesterol stone in 8.5% and high bilirubin stones in 4.2%. Serum and stone cholesterol levels were inversely proportional and the bilirubin levels were directly proportional to each other.