Evolution of Local Structural Motifs in Colloidal Quantum Dot Semiconductor Nanocrystals Leading to Nanofaceting.

Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) have shown remarkable promise for optoelectronics, energy harvesting, photonics, and biomedical imaging. In addition to optimizing quantum confinement, the current challenge is to obtain a better understanding of the critical processing steps and their influence on the evolution of structural motifs. Computational simulations and electron microscopy presented in this work show that nanofaceting can occur during nanocrystal synthesis from a Pb-poor environment in a polar solvent. This could explain the curved interfaces and the olivelike-shaped NCs observed experimentally when these conditions are employed. Furthermore, the wettability of the PbS NCs solid film can be further modified via stoichiometry control, which impacts the interface band bending and, therefore, processes such as multiple junction deposition and interparticle epitaxial growth. Our results suggest that nanofaceting in NCs can become an inherent advantage when used to modulate band structures beyond what is traditionally possible in bulk crystals.

Open procedure vs. arthroscopic débridement for chronic medial epicondylitis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study compared the outcomes after open and arthroscopic treatment of chronic medial epicondylitis (ME). METHODS: The study included 44 elbows in 38 patients: 25 (29-72 years) in the open group and 19 (27-70 years) in the arthroscopy group. The indications for ME surgery were failed conservative therapy for more than 3 months, symptom duration exceeding 6 months, and persistent severe pain. We used radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging assessments. The clinical assessment included operating time, range of motion, grip strength, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and complications. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 20.2 (12-58) months. The mean operating time was significantly longer in the arthroscopy group (32.5 vs. 23.5 minutes; P = .029). In both groups, all outcome measures improved significantly after surgery and there were no significant differences between the DASH scores (preoperative 44.8 vs. 43.9, postoperative 12.5 vs. 13.2), grip strength (preoperative 72.2 vs. 66.8, postoperative 84.8 vs. 83.6), and VAS scores (preoperative 8.5 vs. 8.2, postoperative 1.0 vs. 1.1) in the open and arthroscopy groups. The outcomes were excellent or good in 20 patients (80%) in the open group and 16 (84%) in the arthroscopy group. The only complication was 1 case of transient ulnar neuropathy in the open group. CONCLUSION: Open and arthroscopic techniques were very effective and comparable for treating chronic ME. The surgeon can choose either technique for treating chronic ME.

Self-Catalytic Growth of Elementary Semiconductor Nanowires with Controlled Morphology and Crystallographic Orientation.

While the orientation-dependent properties of semiconductor nanowires have been theoretically predicted, their study has long been overlooked in many fields owing to the limits to controlling the crystallographic growth direction of nanowires (NWs). We present here the orientation-controlled growth of single-crystalline germanium (Ge) NWs using a self-catalytic low-pressure chemical vapor deposition process. By adjusting the growth temperature, the orientation of growth direction in GeNWs was selectively controlled to the ⟨110⟩, ⟨112⟩, or ⟨111⟩ directions on the same substrate. The NWs with different growth directions exhibit distinct morphological features, allowing control of the NW morphology from uniform NWs to nanoribbon structures. Significantly, the VLS-based self-catalytic growth of the ⟨111⟩ oriented GeNW suggests that NW growth is possible for single elementary materials even without an appropriate external catalyst. Furthermore, these findings could provide opportunities to investigate the orientation-dependent properties of semiconductor NWs.

Superior Capsule Reconstruction Using Fascia Lata Allograft Compared With Double- and Single-Layer Dermal Allograft: A Biomechanical Study.

PURPOSE: To biomechanically characterize superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) using fascia lata allograft, double-layer dermal allograft, and single-layer dermal allograft for a clinically relevant massive irreparable rotator cuff tear involving the entire supraspinatus and 50% of the infraspinatus tendons. METHODS: Eight cadaveric specimens were tested in 0°, 30°, and 60° abduction for (1) intact, (2) massive rotator cuff tear, (3) SCR using fascia lata, (4) SCR using double-layer dermis, and (5) SCR using single-layer dermis. Superior translation and subacromial contact pressure were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA or paired t test with P < .05. RESULTS: Massive rotator cuff tear significantly increased superior translation of the humeral head at all abduction angles (P < .05). At 0° abduction, all SCR conditions significantly decreased superior translation compared with the massive tear but did not restore translation (P < .05) to intact. Fascia lata and double-layer dermis SCR restored superior translation to intact at 30° and 60° of abduction, but single-layer dermis did not. Subacromial contact pressure at 0° of abduction significantly decreased with SCR with fascia lata and double-layer dermis compared with tear. At 30°, all SCR conditions significantly decreased subacromial contact pressure. Single-layer dermis graft thickness significantly decreased more than fascia lata during testing (P = .02). CONCLUSION: For SCR tensioned at 20° glenohumeral abduction, all 3 graft types may restore superior translation and subacromial contact pressure depending on the glenohumeral abduction angle; fascia lata and double-layer dermis may be more effective than single-layer dermis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: If a dermal graft is to be used for SCR, consideration should be given to doubling the graft for increased thickness and better restorative biomechanical properties, which may improve clinical outcomes following SCR.

Calf Circumference as a Simple Screening Marker for Diagnosing Sarcopenia in Older Korean Adults: the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the optimal cut-off point of calf circumference (CC) as a simple proxy marker of appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and sarcopenia in the Korean elderly and to test the criterion-related validity of CC by analyzing its relationships with the physical function. METHODS: The participants were 657 adults aged 70 to 84 years who had completed both dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and physical function test in the first baseline year of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. RESULTS: ASM and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were correlated positively with CC (male, ASM, r = 0.55 and SMI, r = 0.54; female, ASM, r = 0.55 and SMI, r = 0.42; all P < 0.001). Testing the validity of CC as a proxy marker for low muscle mass, an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 for males and 0.72 for females were found and their optimal cut-off values of CC were 35 cm for males and 33 cm for females. In addition, CC-based low muscle groups were correlated with physical functions even after adjusting for age and body mass index. Also, the cut-off value of CC for sarcopenia was 32 cm (AUC; male, 0.82 and female, 0.72). CONCLUSION: The optimal cut-off values of CC for low MM are 35 cm for males and 33 cm for females. Lower CC based on these cut-off values is related with poor physical function. CC may be also a good indicator of sarcopenia in Korean elderly.

Dorsoradial Instability of the Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint: A Biomechanical Investigation.

PURPOSE: To define the role of the dorsal capsule and associated dorsal fibrocartilage (DFC) and their interactions with the radial collateral ligament (RCL) as a thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint stabilizer. METHODS: Eight cadaveric thumbs were mounted onto a custom jig with 20 N of muscle load applied. The thumb position in space was digitized to measure ulnar-radial, pronation-supination, and volar-dorsal laxity at 0°, 30°, and 60° MCP joint flexion. Serial sectioning was performed and measurements were repeated for the intact state, proper RCL insufficiency, proper and accessory (complete) RCL insufficiency, complete RCL with 50% DFC (radial) insufficiency, and complete RCL with complete DFC insufficiency. RESULTS: Ulnar-radial deviation, pronation-supination, and volar-dorsal translation significantly changed at 30° and 60° MCP joint flexion when comparing complete RCL insufficiency with complete RCL with 50% DFC insufficiency. At 30° flexion, significant increases were found in ulnar deviation, pronation, and volar translation, and there was a decrease in supination. At 60° flexion, ulnar deviation, pronation, and volar translation increased and radial deviation decreased significantly. At 30° flexion, the resting position significantly pronated and translated volarly. At 60° flexion, the resting position significantly shifted ulnarly, pronated, and translated volarly. CONCLUSIONS: The DFC acts as a secondary stabilizer of the thumb MCP joint, working in tandem with the RCL. It acts by stabilizing the MCP joint dorsoradially when external forces are applied across the joint. This cadaveric study shows that RCL insufficiency with a concomitant DFC injury is less likely to be stable than RCL injuries alone, and that this effect is more pronounced with MCP joint flexion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increasing incompetence of the secondary stabilizers of the RCL, such as the DFC, will likely result in increased clinical instability upon physical examination. The results of this study also suggest the need to consider repair of the DFC at the time of RCL repair.

Optimal Cutoff Points of Anthropometric Parameters to Identify High Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Korean Adults.

Several published studies have reported the need to change the cutoff points of anthropometric indices for obesity. We therefore conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate anthropometric cutoff points predicting high coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Korean adults. We analyzed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2007 to 2010. A total of 21,399 subjects aged 20 to 79 yr were included in this study (9,204 men and 12,195 women). We calculated the 10-yr Framingham coronary heart disease risk score for all individuals. We then estimated receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio to predict a 10-yr CHD risk of 20% or more. For sensitivity analysis, we conducted the same analysis for a 10-yr CHD risk of 10% or more. For a CHD risk of 20% or more, the area under the curve of waist-to-height ratio was the highest, followed by waist circumference and BMI. The optimal cutoff points in men and women were 22.7 kg/m(2) and 23.3 kg/m(2) for BMI, 83.2 cm and 79.7 cm for waist circumference, and 0.50 and 0.52 for waist-to-height ratio, respectively. In sensitivity analysis, the results were the same as those reported above except for BMI in women. Our results support the re-classification of anthropometric indices and suggest the clinical use of waist-to-height ratio as a marker for obesity in Korean adults.

The Effect of Psychological Resilience on Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

Background: Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to assess whether better coping with stress, as assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), is associated with slower cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study used 2018/2019 data and 2-year follow-up data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Of the 3,014 total participants, we included 1,826 participants (mean age, 77.6±3.7 years, 51.9% female) who completed BRS and Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Battery and the Korean version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Results: Higher BRS score at baseline was associated with a lesser decline in the Mini-Mental State Examination score over 2 years after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and depression (B, 0.175; 95% confidence interval, 0.025-0.325) for 2 years, which represents global cognitive function. Other cognitive function measurements (Word List Memory, Word List Recall, Word List Recognition, Digit Span, Trail Making Test-A, and FAB) did not change significantly with the BRS score at baseline. Conclusion: These findings suggest that better stress-coping ability, meaning faster termination of the stress response, may limit the decline in cognitive function.

Arthroscopically assisted reconstruction of triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal avulsion in the ulnar variance-positive patient.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical results of patients treated by arthroscopically assisted reconstruction of foveal avulsion injury of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) using a suture anchor. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 15 patients (11 men and 4 women; mean age, 30.5 years) who underwent surgical procedures for the treatment of TFCC foveal avulsion at our hospital. The patients were followed up for a mean of 29 months. The patients had TFCC foveal avulsion caused by sprains (n = 8), falls (n = 4), playing baseball (n = 2), and a motor vehicle accident (n = 1). All the patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Radiographs obtained to assess ulnar variance (UV), ulnar-dorsal subluxation, and function of the wrist based on grip power; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; and Mayo wrist score were examined for all patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: On preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, TFCC foveal avulsion was observed in 13 of 15 cases. The mean UV value based on preoperative simple radiographic findings was 1.7 ± 1.0 mm, and dorsal subluxation at the distal ulna improved from 2.9 ± 3.0 mm to 0.2 ± 0.9 mm (P = .017). In all cases the distal radioulnar joint instability disappeared postoperatively. Grip power (compared with the uninvolved limb) was 79.3% preoperatively and 82.9% postoperatively (P = .086). The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores were 28.4 points preoperatively and 16.6 points postoperatively (P = .061). The Mayo wrist scores were excellent in 10 cases, good in 2, and fair in 3, and the mean score improved significantly from 64 points preoperatively to 84 points postoperatively (P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic-assisted suture anchor reattachment of the TFCC in patients with traumatic TFCC foveal avulsion can prevent or reduce distal radioulnar joint instability and reduce pain even in chronic cases with positive UV. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Control of lateral dimension in metal-catalyzed germanium nanowire growth: usage of carbon sheath.

We report on the catalytic growth of thin carbon sheathed single crystal germanium nanowires (GeNWs), which can solve the obstacles that have disturbed a wide range of applications of GeNWs. Single crystal Ge NW core and amorphous carbon sheath are simultaneously grown via vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process. The carbon sheath completely blocks unintentional vapor deposition on NW surface, thus ensuring highly uniform diameter, dopant distribution, and electrical conductivity along the entire NW length. Furthermore, the sheath not only inhibits metal diffusion but also improves the chemical stability of GeNWs at even high temperatures.

Closed rupture of flexor tendon by hyperextension mechanism in wrist level (zone V): a report of three cases.

Closed flexor tendon ruptures due to trauma without external wound are rare. When the flexor tendon has excessive loading, failure occurs at the tendon insertion or its origin from the bone. It is likely to result in avulsion fracture rather than rupture of the proper portion of the tendon by forceful grasping with hyperextension. However, we have experienced three cases of closed flexor tendon ruptures at zone V, caused by forceful grasping or hyperextension mechanism against resistance. On physical examination, these patients could not flex interphalangeal joint of thumb or distal interphalangeal joint of the fifth finger. All patients underwent MRI or ultrasonography to find out the location of loss in continuity of the flexor tendons before the operation. After identifying the location, flexor tendon repair or tendon graft using palmaris longus were performed.

Endoscopic Versus Open In Situ Decompression for the Management of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

This study compared the results of endoscopic cubital tunnel release (eCuTR) with those of open cubital tunnel release (oCuTR) for the management of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). In this retrospective study, 35 patients underwent eCuTR or oCuTR. Group I and group II consisted of 16 patients undergoing eCuTR and 19 patients undergoing oCuTR, respectively. Patients were asked to report paresthesia and pain, and electromyography was performed. The Dellon and Bishop classifications were used. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded, as well as the key pinch strength and two-point discrimination. The incision length and operation duration were noted. The mean follow-up was 39 months. The mean operating time was longer in the endoscopy group (43 vs 22 minutes). Overall, 34.3% (n=12) of the cases were classified as Dellon grade II and 65.7% (n=23) were classified as Dellon grade III. According to the Bishop score, excellent or good results were obtained for 75% of the patients in the eCuTR group and 78.9% of the patients in the oCuTR group. In the eCuTR and oCuTR groups, all outcome measures improved after surgery: DASH score (preoperative, 37.7 vs 30.7; postoperative, 15.4 vs 20), VAS score (preoperative, 7.8 vs 7.3; postoperative, 4.3 vs 4.1), pinch strength (preoperative, 74 vs 66; postoperative, 93 vs 84), and two-point discrimination (preoperative, 5.6 vs 6.6; postoperative, 4.9 vs 4.5). No significant difference was apparent between the two techniques in outcomes. However, the endoscopic release had a higher reoperation rate and took twice as long to perform despite having a shorter incision. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx-xx.].

Rapid Uniformity Analysis of Fully Printed SWCNT-Based Thin Film Transistor Arrays via Roll-to-Roll Gravure Process.

The roll-to-roll (R2R) gravure process has the potential for manufacturing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)-based thin film transistor (TFT) arrays on a flexible plastic substrate. A significant hurdle toward the commercialization of the R2R-printed SWCNT-TFT array is the lack of a suitable, simple, and rapid method for measuring the uniformity of printed products. We developed a probing instrument for characterizing R2R gravure printed TFT, named PICR2R-TFT, for rapidly characterizing R2R-printed SWCNT-TFT array that can present a geographical distribution profile to pinpoint the failed devices in an SWCNT-TFT array. Using the newly developed PICR2R-TFT instrument, the current-voltage characteristics of the fabricated SWCNT-TFT devices could be correlated to various R2R-printing process parameters, such as channel length, roll printing length, and printing speed. Thus, by introducing a characterization tool that is reliable and fast, one can quickly optimize the R2R gravure printing conditions to enhance product uniformity, thereby maximizing the yield of printed SWCNT-TFT arrays.

Morphology control of self-catalyzed germanium nanostructures with graphitic carbon shell.

The crystalline germanium nanowires (GeNWs) with a uniform graphitic carbon shell were prepared via a conventional low-pressure chemical vapor deposition method without any external catalyst. The GeNWs grown at low temperature (Tg < 500 degrees C) have a uniform diameter with a large expect ratio of more than 10(3). With increasing the growth temperature (Tg > 500 degrees C), however, the nanowire morphology is dramatically changed into a hybrid structure where highly dense Ge nanoparticles (GeNPs) with a diameter of 5-10 nm are attached onto the Ge nanowires. The nanostructures consist of crystalline Ge-core and very thin graphitic carbon shell. The possible mechanism of anisotropic growth and the control of morphological transition from uniform nanowires to NW/NP hybrid structures are discussed and demonstrated.

Functional Constipation is Associated with a Decline in Word Recognition 2 Years Later in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Consumption and cognitive impairment are the most common health problems among older adults. This study aimed to determine the effects of functional constipation on cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This was a 2-year longitudinal analysis of Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study data, including 851 community-dwelling residents who participated in both the baseline and follow-up surveys. A neuropsychological test, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Battery (CERAD-K), and the Korean version of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) were used to evaluate cognitive function. Functional constipation was defined according to the ROME IV criteria. An analysis of covariance was used to identify the association between functional constipation and cognitive decline. RESULTS: Among the 851 participants, 8.9% had functional constipation. The patients in the constipation group were more likely to have low physical activity (15.8% vs. 8.8%), polypharmacy (61.8% vs. 45.5%), and depression (30.3% vs. 17.4%) than the non-constipation group. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, including age, sex, education years, low physical activity, polypharmacy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, and baseline Cognitive Function Test score, the mean changes in Word Recognition test scores from 2018 to 2020 were -0.07 and -0.54 in the non-constipation and constipation groups, respectively (p=0.007). Other cognitive function tests (Mini-Mental State Examination, word list memory, word list recall, digit span, trail-making test, and FAB) did not show any difference in decline between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Functional constipation at baseline was associated with a decline in word recognition after 2 years.

Treating AO Type C2-3 Distal Humerus Fractures With the Anconeus Flap Transolecranon Approach.

We evaluated the outcomes of precontoured locking plate fixation with the anconeus flap transolecranon (AFT) approach to treating AO type C2-3 comminuted intra-articular distal humerus (IDH) fractures among active patients. Thirty-six patients (age <65 years) with IDH fractures treated with precontoured distal humerus locking plate fixation were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=18; transolecranon [TO] approach) and group 2 (n=18; AFT approach). The radiographic examination included assessments of implant failure, fracture site union, and olecranon osteotomy site union. Clinical examination included assessments of operating time, range of motion (ROM), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, and complications. The mean follow-up time was 25.2 months (range, 18-79 months). The mean operating time was 134.3 minutes and was significantly longer for group 2 (AFT; 141.2 minutes) than for group 1 (TO; 124.2 minutes). The mean olecranon osteotomy site union time was significantly longer in group 2 (7.4 weeks) than in group 2 (4.0 weeks). Olecranon osteotomy site resorption occurred among 6 of 18 patients only in group 2. No significant difference in ROM (flexion, 130°; extension, -0.7°), MEPS (85.7 points), DASH score (20.0 points), or frequency of major complications (TO, 5; AFT, 6) was observed between the groups. Our results showed no advantage of the AFT approach over the TO approach, despite preserving the anconeus. Prospective randomized trials will be necessary to compare the AFT and TO approaches for treating comminuted IDH fractures. [Orthopedics. 2022;45(6):e326-e334.].

Accelerated Cognitive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS).

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive function of community-dwelling elderly individuals. Five-year (2016 to 2020) longitudinal data of the Korea Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS) were used. There were 1559 participants in 2016 and 1455 in 2017 aged 72-84 years. Follow-up was conducted at two-year intervals. We selected participants from the database of the 2017 and 2018 surveys for intergroup comparison over 2-year follow-ups. The number of study patients in the 2017-Group was 1027 and that of the 2018-Group was 879. In the intergroup comparison, the mean difference of word list memory score from 2018 to 2020 was -0.14, while that from 2017 to 2019 was 0.53. The mean difference of word list recall score from 2018 to 2020 was -0.25, while that from 2017 to 2019 was 0.03. These were significant even after adjusting confounding variables. In the intragroup comparison, the word list memory and recall scores from 2018 to 2020 were more decreased than those from 2016 to 2018. Conclusively, cognitive function of the Korean elderly cohort declined much more during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic, particularly in terms of memory and recall function.

Electromagnetic Interference Shielding with 2D Copper Sulfide.

Electronic devices in highly integrated and miniaturized systems demand electromagnetic interference shielding within nanoscale dimensions. Although several ultrathin materials have been proposed, satisfying various requirements such as ultrathin thickness, optical transparency, flexibility, and proper shielding efficiency remains a challenge. Herein, we report an ultrahigh electromagnetic interference (EMI) SSE/t value (>106 dB cm2/g) using a conductive CuS nanosheet with thickness less than 20 nm, which was synthesized at room temperature. We found that the EMI shielding efficiency (EMI SE) of the CuS nanosheet exceeds that of the traditional Cu film in the nanoscale thickness, which is due to high conductivity and the presence of internal dipole structures of the CuS nanosheet that contribute to absorption due to the damping of dipole oscillation. In addition, the CuS nanosheet exhibited high mechanical stability (104 cycles at 3 mm bending radius) and air stability (25 °C, 1 atm), which far exceeded the performance of the Cu nanosheet film. This remarkable performance of nanometer-thick CuS proposes an important pathway toward designing EMI shielding materials for wearable, flexible, and next-generation electronic applications.

Machine learning-based diagnosis and risk factor analysis of cardiocerebrovascular disease based on KNHANES.

The prevalence of cardiocerebrovascular disease (CVD) is continuously increasing, and it is the leading cause of human death. Since it is difficult for physicians to screen thousands of people, high-accuracy and interpretable methods need to be presented. We developed four machine learning-based CVD classifiers (i.e., multi-layer perceptron, support vector machine, random forest, and light gradient boosting) based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We resampled and rebalanced KNHANES data using complex sampling weights such that the rebalanced dataset mimics a uniformly sampled dataset from overall population. For clear risk factor analysis, we removed multicollinearity and CVD-irrelevant variables using VIF-based filtering and the Boruta algorithm. We applied synthetic minority oversampling technique and random undersampling before ML training. We demonstrated that the proposed classifiers achieved excellent performance with AUCs over 0.853. Using Shapley value-based risk factor analysis, we identified that the most significant risk factors of CVD were age, sex, and the prevalence of hypertension. Additionally, we identified that age, hypertension, and BMI were positively correlated with CVD prevalence, while sex (female), alcohol consumption and, monthly income were negative. The results showed that the feature selection and the class balancing technique effectively improve the interpretability of models.

General versus Brachial Plexus Block Anesthesia in Pain Management after Internal Fixation in Patients with Distal Radius Fracture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are very common injuries associated with aging, and the number of fractures is increasing with the increase in the elderly population. General anesthesia or brachial plexus block (BPB) is required for fracture fixation, and acute postoperative pain control is necessary after operation. Early pain control can improve patient satisfaction and functional outcomes. In this study, we report the clinical differences in postoperative pain, according to the method of anesthesia (general anesthesia versus brachial plexus block). Volar plating was used to treat 72 patients older than 60 years who had comminuted DRF. Patients were randomized to either group A (36 patients), who underwent general anesthesia, or group B (36 patients), who underwent BPB. We compared these two groups prospectively for acute postoperative pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The VAS scores of each group were: 6.8 ± 2.5 in general anesthesia and 0.5 ± 2.3 in BPB at 2 h, postoperatively; 6.5 ± 2.4 in general anesthesia and 0.5 ± 2.4 in BPB anesthesia at 4 h, postoperatively; 5.2 ± 2.4 in general anesthesia and 1.5 ± 2.4 in BPB anesthesia at 6 h, postoperatively; 4.5 ± 2.5 in general anesthesia and 3.4 ± 2.7 in BPB anesthesia at 12 h, postoperatively; and 3.5 ± 2.5 in general anesthesia and 3.2 ± 2.7 in BPB anesthesia at 24 h, postoperatively. DRF patients with BPB anesthesia showed a lower VAS score than those subjected to general anesthesia in early postoperative period. As a result, the effect of BPB anesthesia on acute pain management after surgery was excellent, which resulted in a lower pain score compared with general anesthesia in DRF patients undergoing volar plating.