Using UAV images and deep learning in investigating potential breeding sites of Aedes albopictus.

Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) plays a crucial role as a vector for mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and zika. Given the limited availability of effective vaccines, the prevention of Aedes-borne diseases mainly relies on extensive efforts in vector surveillance and control. In multiple mosquito control methods, the identification and elimination of potential breeding sites (PBS) for Aedes are recognized as effective methods for population control. Previous studies utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and deep learning to identify PBS have primarily focused on large, regularly-shaped containers. However, there has been a small amount of empirical research into their practical application in the field. We have thus constructed a PBS dataset specifically tailored for Ae. albopictus, including items such as buckets, bowls, bins, aquatic plants, jars, lids, pots, boxes, and sinks that were common in the Yangtze River Basin in China. Then, a YOLO v7 model for identifying these PBS was developed. Finally, we recognized and labeled the area with the highest PBS density, as well as the subarea with the most urgent need for source reduction in the empirical region, by calculating the kernel density value. Based on the above research, we proposed a UAV-AI-based methodological framework to locate the spatial distribution of PBS, and conducted empirical research on Jinhulu New Village, a typical model community. The results revealed that the YOLO v7 model achieved an excellent result on the F1 score and mAP(both above 0.99), with 97% of PBS correctly located. The predicted distribution of different PBS categories in each subarea was completely consistent with true distribution; the five houses with the most PBS were correctly located. The results of the kernel density map indicate the subarea 4 with the highest density of PBS, where PBS needs to be removed or destroyed with immediate effect. These results demonstrate the reliability of the prediction results and the feasibility of the UAV-AI-based methodological framework. It can minimize repetitive labor, enhance efficiency, and provide guidance for the removal and destruction of PBS. The research can shed light on the investigation of mosquito PBS investigation both methodologically and practically.

Assessment of Accuracy, User Engagement, and Themes of Eating Disorder Content in Social Media Short Videos.

Importance: Social media is simultaneously home to communities of users who promote eating disorders as a lifestyle and users who advocate for recovery. As studies have confirmed an association between exposure to pro-eating disorder content and engaging in disordered eating behaviors, an examination of the accuracy of and interactions with information shared in these complex and contradictory communities can provide insights into content available to users at risk. Objective: To determine the associations among themes, accuracy of information, and user engagement of eating disorder content on a short video-sharing social media platform. Design, Setting, and Participants: This qualitative study included a thematic analysis of a sample of 200 TikTok videos, as well as user engagement metrics and content creator characteristics, between February and June 2022. Data were analyzed from March to June 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Content themes, accuracy of information, user engagement, and the associations among these factors were identified in a sample of eating disorder videos on a social media platform. Data were analyzed with Pearson χ2, analysis of variance, linear regression, and random permutation tests. Results: Among the 200 videos assessed, 124 (62.0%) covered prorecovery content, 59 (29.5%) included pro-eating disorder content, and 17 (8.5%) contained anti-eating disorder content. Thematic analysis revealed 4 high-level themes: (1) encouraging the development or sustainment of eating disorders, (2) sharing physical or emotional experiences with eating disorders, (3) sharing narratives of recovery, and (4) social support. While the results of Pearson χ2 test indicated that videos in the prorecovery domain contained more accurate content than videos categorized in the pro-eating disorder and anti-eating disorder domains (χ24 = 157.92; P < .001), the results of analysis of variance demonstrated that there was no significant difference in user engagement between informative and misleading content (likes: F = 0.110; P = .95; comments: F = 2.031; P = .13; views: F = 0.534; P = .59; shares: F = 0.691; P = .50). Results of the 10 000 random permutation tests, in which all P values were between .40 and .60 regardless of the distances, suggested that there was no significant difference in user engagement among the 3 domains. Conclusions and Relevance: This mixed-methods qualitative analysis of misleading eating disorder information on social media found that pro-eating disorder and prorecovery communities were prevalent. However, social media users in the prorecovery community created more informative than misleading content. Furthermore, the study found no significant difference between users' engagement with accurate vs misleading videos, which may suggest that false information alone does not influence the virality of videos.

Different neurologic outcomes of myasthenia gravis with thymic hyperplasia and thymoma after extended thymectomy: A single center experience.

This study aimed to reveal the clinical course and outcomes of myasthenia gravis (MG) in patients with thymic lymphoid hyperplasia and thymoma undergoing extended thymectomy and to identify the clinical prognostic factors of remission for MG. In total, 73 patients undergoing extended thymectomy were divided into two groups: group A with lymphoid hyperplasia (n=39) and group B with thymoma (n=34). According to the MG Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status, the primary endpoint was a composite measure defined as achievement of complete stable remission (CSR), pharmacologic remission (PR), minimal manifestations (MM) or improvement (IM). The secondary endpoint was CSR. The cumulative probabilities of reaching the primary endpoint were 71.8% in group A and 85.3% in group B (p=0.164), respectively. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the probability of reaching the primary endpoint in group B was remarkably greater than group A (p=0.036). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that pre-operative MGFA class I (HR: 3.019, 95% CI: 1.084-8.410) and MGFA II (2.665, 95% CI: 1.033-6.873) compared to MGFA III and presence of thymoma (HR: 2.229, 95% CI: 1.079-4.606), showed the most consistent association with remission of MG after thymectomy. Finally, thymic lymphoid hyperplasia and severe symptoms may negatively affect prognosis of MG following thymectomy.

Robotic trans-subxiphoid extended thymectomy in a patient with thymoma-associated pemphigus.

We herein firstly reported that a patient with thymoma-associated pemphigus (TAP) underwent a robotic-assisted trans-subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy and then achieved stable resolution. The patient, a 47-year-old male, was first admitted to our hospital owing to stomatitis and bullae of the trunk after four months' prednisone treatment. On admission, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an anterior-mediastinal mass and it was initially diagnosed as a thymoma. He was positive for anti-BP (bullous pemphigoid)-180 antibody and anti-desmoglein 3 antibody. Then, a robotic-assisted thymectomy was performed, following which, the anti-BP-180 and anti-desmoglein 3 antibody titres have declined. The patient's mucocutaneous lesions improved, and the steroid dose was gradually decreased from 60 to 40 mg/day. According to previous reports, and the experience of the presented case, we therefore believe that early extended thymectomy is an effective therapeutic intervention for TAP.