Early Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Optimizes Teicoplanin Use in Febrile Neutropenic Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

INTRODUCTION: A target trough concentration (Cmin) of teicoplanin ≥ 15-20 mg/L between the fourth and sixth day has been suggested for severe infections or management of febrile neutropenia (FN). Owing to no reports discussing the impact of early target attainment on treatment outcomes, this study aimed to evaluate the dose-Cmin relationship and clinical outcome and estimate the optimal early target Cmin for FN in patients with hematological malignancies. METHODS: This single-center, prospective study enrolled patients with hematological malignancies who were treated with teicoplanin either as an empirical antibiotic for FN or as targeted treatment for Gram-positive bacteria. Blood samples were collected on day three (48 h) post-loading doses, day 5 (96 h), and day 8 (when applicable) and determined by ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry. A total of 117 samples from 47 patients with FN (27 men, 20 women) were consecutively analyzed. A two-tailed α value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean Cmin values at 48 h, 96 h, and on day 8 were 23.4, 21.4, and 27.8 mg/L, respectively. The patients achieving Cmin ≥ 20 mg/L at 48 h had a higher likelihood of treatment success. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.71 for clinical efficacy and the cutoff value of Cmin at 48 h was 18.85 mg/L (95% confidence interval 0.55-0.87; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: The Cmin of teicoplanin after completion of loading doses could predict the treatment response, with a target concentration ≥ 18.85 mg/L.

Probucol mitigates high-fat diet-induced cognitive and social impairments by regulating brain redox and insulin resistance.

Probucol has been utilized as a cholesterol-lowering drug with antioxidative properties. However, the impact and fundamental mechanisms of probucol in obesity-related cognitive decline are unclear. In this study, male C57BL/6J mice were allocated to a normal chow diet (NCD) group or a high-fat diet (HFD) group, followed by administration of probucol to half of the mice on the HFD regimen. Subsequently, the mice were subjected to a series of behavioral assessments, alongside the measurement of metabolic and redox parameters. Notably, probucol treatment effectively alleviates cognitive and social impairments induced by HFD in mice, while exhibiting no discernible influence on mood-related behaviors. Notably, the beneficial effects of probucol arise independently of rectifying obesity or restoring systemic glucose and lipid homeostasis, as evidenced by the lack of changes in body weight, serum cholesterol levels, blood glucose, hyperinsulinemia, systemic insulin resistance, and oxidative stress. Instead, probucol could regulate the levels of nitric oxide and superoxide-generating proteins, and it could specifically alleviate HFD-induced hippocampal insulin resistance. These findings shed light on the potential role of probucol in modulating obesity-related cognitive decline and urge reevaluation of the underlying mechanisms by which probucol exerts its beneficial effects.

Cross-cultural translation and validation of the Chinese version Distress Tolerance Scale for adolescents with chronic physical disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic physical disease (CPD) makes life filled with many negative events in adolescents, but not all adolescents experiencing negative life events proceed to develop emotional distress, only those with low emotional distress tolerance (EDT). A valid and reliable scale to measure EDT in CPD adolescents is important for caring for their emotional distress. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to translate the 15-item English version Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) into a Chinese version and then validate the scale for measuring EDT of adolescents with CPD. METHODS: The 15-item English version DTS was translated into a Chinese version using the translation guidelines for cross-cultural research. Two cohorts of adolescents with CPD were recruited from four hospitals in southern Taiwan, with the first cohort including 124 adolescents with CPD employed to conduct exploratory factor analysis, corrected item-total correlation and reliability testing, while the second cohort, consisting of 238 adolescents with CPD, was utilized to examine confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity. RESULTS: The two-factor nine-item Chinese version DTS for Adolescents with CPD (C-DTS-A) was developed. Lower scores of the C-DTS-A were significantly associated with higher diabetes distress, poorer self-management, and worse glycaemic control; their correlation coefficients sequentially were -.40, .17 and -.23. Cronbach's α and the test-retest reliability of the two-factor C-DTS-A ranged from .81 to .87 and from .79 to .89, respectively. CONCLUSION: The two-factor nine-item C-DTS-A with good cross-cultural translation quality was a reliable and valid scale to assess EDT for adolescents with CPD.

Reported Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Incidence in Adolescent Athletes is Greatest in Female Soccer Players and Athletes Participating in Club Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

PURPOSE: To identify the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in adolescent athletes based on sex, sport, and sport affiliation. METHODS: A literature search was performed using three online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE) from database inception to November 2023 per the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Included studies consisted of level I or II studies reporting on ACL injury exposures in time (hours) or injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures (AE) (1 game or practice) in adolescent athletes. Exclusion criteria consisted of non-English studies, case reports, animal/cadaveric studies, and review articles. Methodological quality and bias assessment of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. ACL injuries were analyzed and pooled to calculate incidence rates (IRs), per-season risk, and relative risk (RR) based on sex, sport, and sport affiliation (club sport participation vs school sport participation). RESULTS: A total of 1,389 ACL injuries over 19,134,167 AE's were identified (IR, 0.075 [95% CI, 0.071-0.079]). Of these, 670 ACL injuries were reported in female athletes over 7,549,892 AEs (IR, 0.089 [95% CI, 0.087-0.091]) with 719 in males over 11,584,275 AEs (IR, 0.062 [95% CI, 0.058-0.067]). The greatest RR for ACL injury in females was in soccer (RR, 3.12 [95% CI, 2.58-3.77]) for AEs. The greatest per-season risk of ACL injuries reported in female athletes occurred in soccer (1.08%), basketball (1.03%), and gymnastics (1.01%). The greatest per-season risk of ACL injuries reported in male athletes occurred in football (0.82%), lacrosse (0.64%), and soccer (0.35%). Club sport participation, in both AE (RR, 3.94 [95% CI, 3.19-4.87]) and hours of exposure (RR, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.07-2.28]), demonstrated an increased risk of ACL injury. CONCLUSION: The risk of ACL injuries was 1.56-fold greater in adolescent female athletes compared to male athletes. The highest-risk sport for females was soccer. Participation in club sports possessed higher rates of injury compared to school sports.

No Difference in 10-Year Survivorship of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Versus Hemiarthroplasty for Avascular Necrosis of the Humeral Head.

INTRODUCTION: Avascular necrosis of the humeral head (AVN) is characterized by osteonecrosis secondary to disrupted blood flow to the glenohumeral joint. Following collapse of the humeral head, arthroplasty, namely total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or humeral head arthroplasty (hemiarthroplasty) is recommended standard of care. The literature is limited to underpowered and small sample sizes in comparing arthroplasty modalities. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to compare the 10-year survivorship of TSA and hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of AVN of the humeral head and (2) to identify differences in their revision etiologies. METHODS: Patients who underwent primary TSA and hemiarthroplasty for AVN were identified using the PearlDiver database. TSA patients were matched by age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to the hemiarthroplasty cohort in a 4:1 ratio since TSA patients were generally older, sicker, and more often female. The 10-year cumulative incidence rate of all-cause revision was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Multivariable analysis was conducted using Cox Proportional Hazard modeling. Chi-squared analysis was conducted to compare the indications for revisions between matched cohorts including periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), dislocation, mechanical loosening, broken implants, periprosthetic fracture, and stiffness. RESULTS: In total, 4,825 patients undergoing TSA and 1,969 patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty for AVN were included in this study. The unmatched 10-year cumulative incidence of revision for patients who underwent TSA and hemiarthroplasty was 7.0% and 7.7%, respectively. The matched 10-year cumulative incidence of revision for patients who underwent TSA and hemiarthroplasty was 6.7% and 8.0%, respectively. When comparing the unmatched cohorts, TSA patients were at significantly higher risk of 10-year all-cause revision (HR: 1.39; P = 0.017) when compared to hemiarthroplasty patients. After matching, there was no significant difference in risk of 10-year all-cause revision (HR: 1.29; P = 0.148) and no difference in the observed etiologies for revision (P > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: After controlling for confounders, only 6.7% of TSA and 8.0% hemiarthroplasties for humeral head AVN were revised within 10-years of index surgery. The demonstrated high and comparable long-term survivorship for both modalities supports the utilization of either for the AVN induced humeral head collapse.

Exploring the Design of Upper Limb Strength Training Through High-Intensity Interval Training Combined With Exergaming: Usability Study.

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become a popular exercise strategy in modern society, with the Tabata training method being the most popular. In the past, these training methods were mostly done without equipment, but incorporating exergaming into the training may provide a new option for muscle training. objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the differences in upper limb muscle activation using an HIIT program combined with exergaming. Methods: A total of 15 healthy male participants were recruited for the study, and the differences in muscle activation were compared between push-ups and exergaming (Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Adventure with the Ring-Con accessory) during HIIT. Prior to the tests, participants underwent pretests, including maximal voluntary contractions of various muscle groups, maximal push-up tests, and maximal movement tests using the exergaming device. The push-up and exergaming tests were conducted on separate days to avoid interference, with a warm-up period of 5 minutes on a treadmill before testing. Muscle activation in the lateral and anterior portions of the deltoid muscle, the sternal and clavicular heads of the pectoralis major muscle, and the latissimus dorsi muscle were measured during the maximal voluntary contractions and single-round tests for each exercise mode. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the variations in muscle activation observed across the 2 distinct modes of exercise, specifically push-ups and exergaming. Results: In exergaming, the number of repetitions for push-ups was significantly fewer than for single-site exercises across both exhaustive (mean 23.13, SD 6.36 vs mean 55.67, SD 17.83; P=.001; effect size [ES]: 2.43) and single-round (mean 21.93, SD 7.67 vs mean 92.40, SD 20.47; P=.001; ES: 4.56) training. Heart rate differences were not significant (all P>.05), yet exergaming led to better muscle activation in specific muscle groups, particularly the right anterior deltoid (mean 48.00%, SD 7.66% vs mean 32.84%, SD 10.27%; P=.001; ES: 1.67) and right pectoralis major (sternal head: mean 38.99%, SD 9.98% vs mean 26.90%, SD 12.97%; P=.001; ES: 1.04; clavicular head: mean 43.54%, SD 9.59% vs mean 30.09%, SD 11.59%; P=.002; ES: 1.26) during exhaustive training. In single-round training, similar patterns were observed with the anterior deltoid (mean 51.37%, SD 11.76% vs mean 35.47%, SD 12.72%; P=.002; ES: 1.30) and pectoralis major (sternal head: mean 53.27%, SD 10.79% vs mean 31.56%, SD 16.92%; P=.001; ES: 1.53; clavicular head: mean 53.75%, SD 13.01% vs mean 37.95%, SD 14.67%; P=.006; ES: 1.14). These results suggest that exergaming may be more effective for targeted muscle activation. Conclusions: In conclusion, HIIT can increase muscle activation in the upper extremities and can be incorporated into exergaming strategies to provide a fun and engaging way to exercise.

Translation and adaptation of Shared Care Instrument-Revised for the older adults and their caregivers in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The aging population in Taiwan has resulted in an increase in the dependent population and the care load on caregivers. Shared care is an interpersonal process in which support is "traded" to "handle" chronic illnesses by home-care patients and family caregivers. The scale of shared care has received little attention in the Taiwanese cultural context. Thus, this study examined the reliability and validity of the Taiwanese versions of Shared Care Instrument-Revised (SCI-R). METHODS: The content validity, construct validity, and discriminant validity were used to test the validity of the translated questionnaires. The Cronbach's α was used to examine reliability. A total of 500 older adults and their caregivers were recruited from three counties in Taiwan. RESULTS: The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the scale were within the acceptable range. The Cronbach's α was between 0.838 and 0.95. However, the scale's reliability was higher than that of the original version. This might be because of the inclusion of participants with less severe diseases than the participants in the original study, high social expectations in the Chinese traditional culture, and a large number of similar items. Future research should simplify the items and consider adopting diverse participant selection criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study can be used to understand shared care in Taiwan.

TIMAHAC: Streamlined Tandem IMAC-HILIC Workflow for Simultaneous and High-Throughput Plant Phosphoproteomics and N-glycoproteomics.

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial in plant cellular processes, particularly in protein folding and signal transduction. N-glycosylation and phosphorylation are notably significant PTMs, playing essential roles in regulating plant responses to environmental stimuli. However, current sequential enrichment methods for simultaneous analysis of phosphoproteome and N-glycoproteome are labor-intensive and time-consuming, limiting their throughput. Addressing this challenge, this study introduces a novel tandem S-Trap-IMAC-HILIC (S-Trap: suspension trapping; IMAC: immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography; HILIC: hydrophilic interaction chromatography) strategy, termed TIMAHAC, for simultaneous analysis of plant phosphoproteomics and N-glycoproteomics. This approach integrates IMAC and HILIC into a tandem tip format, streamlining the enrichment process of phosphopeptides and N-glycopeptides. The key innovation lies in the use of a unified buffer system and an optimized enrichment sequence to enhance efficiency and reproducibility. The applicability of TIMAHAC was demonstrated by analyzing the Arabidopsis phosphoproteome and N-glycoproteome in response to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Up to 1954 N-glycopeptides and 11,255 phosphopeptides were identified from Arabidopsis, indicating its scalability for plant tissues. Notably, distinct perturbation patterns were observed in the phosphoproteome and N-glycoproteome, suggesting their unique contributions to ABA response. Our results reveal that TIMAHAC offers a comprehensive approach to studying complex regulatory mechanisms and PTM interplay in plant biology, paving the way for in-depth investigations into plant signaling networks.

Targeting MicroRNA in myopia: Current insights.

Myopia, the most prevalent eye condition, has sparked notable interest regarding its origin and prevention. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA strands typically consisting of 18-24 nucleotides. They play a central role in post-transcriptional gene regulation and are closely associated with both normal and pathological processes in organisms. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics have provided novel insights into miRNA expression and its regulatory role in myopia. This review discusses the distinct expression patterns, regulatory functions, and potential pathways of miRNAs involved in the onset and progression of myopia. The primary objective of this review was to provide valuable insights into molecular mechanisms underlying myopia and the contribution of miRNAs. These insights are expected to pave the way for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical applications of myopia.

Clinicopathologic Features and Cytologic Correlation of ALK-Rearranged Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Series of Eight Cases.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusions are rare in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but may serve as a therapeutic target. This study aims to evaluate the preoperative cytologic findings and clinicopathologic features of a series of eight ALK-rearranged PTCs from our pathology archives and consultations. All cases were confirmed by ALK D5F3 immunohistochemistry and six with additional targeted RNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). The original fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology diagnosis included the Bethesda System (TBS) category II in three (37.5%), TBS III in two (25%), TBS V in two (25%), and TBS VI in one (12.5%). Six cases had available FNA cytology and were reviewed. The cytologic features showed microfollicular architecture as well as limited or reduced nuclear elongation and chromatin alterations in all six. Nuclear grooves and pseudoinclusions were absent in two cases, rarely or focally noted in three, and frequently found in one. Two cases initially diagnosed as TBS II, showing microfollicular architecture without well-developed nuclear features, were revised to TBS III (with architectural atypia only). For histologic correlations, four were infiltrative follicular variant PTCs, three as classic subtype PTC with predominant follicular growth, and one as solid/trabecular subtype PTC. All eight cases demonstrated reduced PTC nuclear features with respect to nuclear elongation and chromatin alterations compared to those typically identified in "BRAF-like" PTCs. The NGS testing revealed EML4::ALK fusion in three, STRN::ALK fusion in two, and ITSN2::ALK fusion in one. In conclusion, although ALK-rearranged PTCs have been associated with neutral gene expression profile from a BRAF-RAS scoring perspective, the "RAS-like" nuclear features were more commonly identified in this series, resulting in frequent indeterminate diagnosis of preoperative FNA.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression in different subtypes of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The lack of expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is frequently associated with KMT2A-rearranged subtype of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, this association has not been investigated extensively in the Asian population. A retrospective analysis of TdT expression in pediatric B-cell ALL (B-ALL) was performed in patients treated using the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) ALL 2002 and 2013 protocols. Among the 331 patients with B-ALL, 12 patients showed TdT negativity at initial diagnosis. Among these, eight patients showed KMT2A rearrangement (66.7%). Other patients showing negative TdT expression had ETV6::RUNX1, MEF2D-rearranged, and other B-ALL subtypes. However, in the context of KMT2A-rearranged B-ALL (n = 20), only eight patients showed TdT negativity. The 5-year event-free survival and overall survival of patients with and without TdT expression were 83.8% versus 46.8% (P <0.001) and 86.3% versus 55.4% (P = 0.004), respectively. Moreover, several aberrant markers, such as CD2, CD56, CD7, and CD117, were rarely expressed in the B-ALL samples, and if expressed, they were enriched in specific genetic subtypes. The results of this study indicate that immunophenotypic features are correlated with specific genetic subtypes of childhood B-ALL.

Analysis of dissolved oxygen influencing factors and concentration prediction using input variable selection technique: A hybrid machine learning approach.

Accurate quantification of dissolved oxygen (DO) is critically important for the protection and management of aquatic ecosystems. Successful applications have utilized mechanistic and data-driven models to simulate DO content in aquatic ecosystems. However, mechanistic models present challenges due to their complex and difficult-to-solve conditions, making them less portable. Additionally, data-driven model predictions are hindered by the challenge of numerous input variables, impacting both the running speed and prediction performance of the model. To address these challenges, water quality data and meteorological data of the Tanjiang River were obtained. The maximum information coefficient (MIC) input variable selection technique was employed to identify primary environmental factors influencing DO changes. Furthermore, coupled with support vector regression (SVR), two models (SVR and MIC-SVR) were employed to estimate the DO concentration of the Tanjiang River, and the optimal model was established. The results indicated a shift in the primary pollution factor from ammonia nitrogen to total phosphorus after recent treatment in the Tanjiang River. In comparison with the SVR model, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the MIC-SVR model was reduced by 4.46%, and the Nash-efficiency coefficient (NSE) was improved by 45.85%. In addition, study of kernel function selection revealed that considering as many kernel functions as possible is necessary for improving the performance of the SVR model. Conclusively, the proposed MIC-SVR model serves as an effective tool to analyze the relationship between DO and environmental factors, identifying the primary causes of low DO, and accurately predict the DO concentration in the Tanjiang River (especially in its middle and lower reaches), thus providing a reference for governmental decision-making on water environmental protection and water resource management.

A case of primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma achieving stable disease with paclitaxel treatment: A case report and literature review.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular neoplasm with a clinical behaviour that falls between a benign hemangioma and a high-grade angiosarcoma. Pleural EHE is exceptionally rare, and its prognosis is grim, with most patients experiencing survival of less than 1 year. Here, we present a case of pleural EHE in a 45-year-old woman with a month-long history of right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Chest computed tomography revealed consolidation, atelectasis of the right lung, right pleural thickening, and pleural effusion. She underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for decortication and was diagnosed with conclusively pleural EHE, showing a CAMTA1 rearrangement. Paclitaxel treatment, administered once weekly on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle, resulted in a stable disease after 12 cycles. Managing patients with pleural EHE is challenging because there are still no established standard treatments. Our case achieved 11-month progression-free survival following paclitaxel treatment.

Synergistic effects of the combination of trametinib and alpelisib in anaplastic thyroid cancer with BRAF and PI3KCA co-mutations.

Background: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), a rare and aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, has shown promise with the approved dabrafenib/trametinib combination for BRAFV600E mutation. Co-occurring PI3KCA mutations, identified as negative prognostic factors in lung cancer with BRAFV600E mutation, emphasize the need to target both pathways. Exploring trametinib and alpelisib combination becomes crucial for ATC. Methods: A patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and primary cell line were obtained from an ATC patient with BRAF and PI3KCA co-mutation. Individual testing of targeted therapies against BRAF, MEK, and PI3KCA was followed by a combination treatment. Synergistic effects were evaluated using the combination index. Immunoblotting assessed the efficacy, with validation performed using a PDX model. Results: In this study, the ATC0802 cell line and PDX were established from a refractory ATC patient. NGS revealed BRAF and PI3KCA co-mutations pre- and post-dabrafenib/trametinib treatment. Trametinib/alpelisib combination showed synergy, suppressing both pERK and pAKT levels, unlike monotherapies or BRAF knockdown. The combination induced apoptosis and, in the PDX model, demonstrated superior tumor growth inhibition compared to monotherapies. Conclusions: The combination of trametinib and alpelisib showed promise as a strategy for treating ATC with co-mutations in BRAF and PI3KCA, both in vitro and in vivo. This combination offers insights into overcoming resistance to BRAF-targeted treatments in ATC with mutations in BRAF and PI3KCA.

T2-weighted imaging-based radiomic-clinical machine learning model for predicting the differentiation of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The study on predicting the differentiation grade of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been reported yet. Developing a non-invasive model to predict the differentiation grade of CRC is of great value. AIM: To develop and validate machine learning-based models for predicting the differentiation grade of CRC based on T2-weighted images (T2WI). METHODS: We retrospectively collected the preoperative imaging and clinical data of 315 patients with CRC who underwent surgery from March 2018 to July 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to a training cohort (n = 220) or a validation cohort (n = 95) at a 7:3 ratio. Lesions were delineated layer by layer on high-resolution T2WI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to screen for radiomic features. Radiomics and clinical models were constructed using the multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithm. These radiomic features and clinically relevant variables (selected based on a significance level of P < 0.05 in the training set) were used to construct radiomics-clinical models. The performance of the three models (clinical, radiomic, and radiomic-clinical model) were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: After feature selection, eight radiomic features were retained from the initial 1781 features to construct the radiomic model. Eight different classifiers, including logistic regression, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbours, random forest, extreme trees, extreme gradient boosting, light gradient boosting machine, and MLP, were used to construct the model, with MLP demonstrating the best diagnostic performance. The AUC of the radiomic-clinical model was 0.862 (95%CI: 0.796-0.927) in the training cohort and 0.761 (95%CI: 0.635-0.887) in the validation cohort. The AUC for the radiomic model was 0.796 (95%CI: 0.723-0.869) in the training cohort and 0.735 (95%CI: 0.604-0.866) in the validation cohort. The clinical model achieved an AUC of 0.751 (95%CI: 0.661-0.842) in the training cohort and 0.676 (95%CI: 0.525-0.827) in the validation cohort. All three models demonstrated good accuracy. In the training cohort, the AUC of the radiomic-clinical model was significantly greater than that of the clinical model (P = 0.005) and the radiomic model (P = 0.016). DCA confirmed the clinical practicality of incorporating radiomic features into the diagnostic process. CONCLUSION: In this study, we successfully developed and validated a T2WI-based machine learning model as an auxiliary tool for the preoperative differentiation between well/moderately and poorly differentiated CRC. This novel approach may assist clinicians in personalizing treatment strategies for patients and improving treatment efficacy.

Role of serum neuron-specific enolase levels in the early diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is one of the most ubiquitous complications of sepsis and is characterized by cognitive impairment, poor prognosis, and a lack of uniform clinical diagnostic criteria. Therefore, this study investigated the early diagnostic and prognostic value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in SAE. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis systematically searched for clinical trials with serum NSE information in patients with sepsis in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases from their inception to April 10, 2023. Included studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy-2 tool. The meta-analysis of the included studies was performed using Stata 17.0 and Review Manager version 5.4. Findings: Eleven studies were included in this meta-analysis involving 1259 serum samples from 947 patients with sepsis. Our results showed that the serum NSE levels of patients with SAE were higher than those of the non-encephalopathy sepsis group (mean deviation, MD,12.39[95% CI 8.27-16.50, Z = 5.9, p < 0.00001]), and the serum NSE levels of patients with sepsis who died were higher than those of survivors (MD,4.17[95% CI 2.66-5.68, Z = 5.41, p < 0.00001]). Conclusion: Elevated serum NSE levels in patients with sepsis are associated with the early diagnosis of SAE and mortality; therefore, serum NSE probably is a valid biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of patients with SAE. Systematic review registration: This study was registered in PROSPERO, CRD42023433111.

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced mammography for suspicious findings in dense breasts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Contrast-enhanced spectral imaging (CEM) is a new mammography technique, but its diagnostic value in dense breasts is still inconclusive. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of CEM for suspicious findings in dense breasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically until August 6, 2023. Prospective and retrospective studies were included to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CEM for suspicious findings in dense breasts. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. STATA V.16.0 and Review Manager V.5.3 were used to meta-analyze the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies (827 patients, 958 lesions) were included. These 10 studies reported the diagnostic performance of CEM for the workup of suspicious lesions in patients with dense breasts. The summary sensitivity and summary specificity were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.97) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.89), respectively. Enhanced lesions, circumscribed margins, and malignancy were statistically correlated. The relative malignancy OR value of the enhanced lesions was 28.11 (95% CI, 6.84-115.48). The relative malignancy OR value of circumscribed margins was 0.17 (95% CI, 0.07-0.45). CONCLUSION: CEM has high diagnostic performance in the workup of suspicious findings in dense breasts, and when lesions are enhanced and have irregular margins, they are often malignant.

Analysis and evaluation of the burning characteristics of six commonly used herbaceous species in Beijing.

Surface vegetations are one of the key factors affecting the spread of green space fires. To explore the combustibility of commonly used local surface layer herbaceous species in Beijing, and to provide a reference for the construction and management of urban green space, we comprehensively evaluated the combustibility of Carex giraldiana, Carex breviculis, Liriope spicata, Iris lactea, Iris tectorum, and Buffaloe dactyloides, with the entropy weight method and K-mean cluster analysis based on the principal component analysis method. We measured the combustion characteristics indicators (blade ignition point, combustion time and heat release rate), physical and chemical indicators (leaf moisture content and crude fat content), and biological characteristics indicators (blade thickness and unit load) during the key period of fire prevention. The results showed that blade thickness and ignition point got the highest weight and affected the overall combustibility most. Peak heat release rate and ignition time had the lowest weight and minimal impact on the overall combustibility. The combustibility of the six species followed an order of B. dactyloides > C. breviculmis > L. spicata > C. giraldiana > I. lactea > I. tectorum. Results of the clustering analysis showed that the combustion ability of B. dactyloides, C. breviculmis, and L. spicata were in class Ⅰ, with the strongest combustion ability; C. giraldiana was in class Ⅱ; I. lactea and I. tectorum were in class Ⅲ, with the lowest flammability. As widely used surface vegetations, critical attention should be paid on B. dactyloides, C. breviculmis and L. spicata for fire prevention in winter and spring.

What Goes In, Must Come Out: Generative Artificial Intelligence Does Not Present Algorithmic Bias Across Race and Gender in Medical Residency Specialties.

Objective Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made significant inroads into various domains, including medicine, raising concerns about algorithmic bias. This study investigates the presence of biases in generative AI programs, with a specific focus on gender and racial representations across 19 medical residency specialties. Methodology This comparative study utilized DALL-E2 to generate faces representing 19 distinct residency training specialties, as identified by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which were then compared to the AAMC's residency specialty breakdown with respect to race and gender. Results Our findings reveal an alignment between OpenAI's DALL-E2's predictions and the current demographic landscape of medical residents, suggesting an absence of algorithmic bias in this AI model. Conclusion This revelation gives rise to important ethical considerations. While AI excels at pattern recognition, it inherits and mirrors the biases present in its training data. To combat AI bias, addressing real-world disparities is imperative. Initiatives to promote inclusivity and diversity within medicine are commendable and contribute to reshaping medical education. This study underscores the need for ongoing efforts to dismantle barriers and foster inclusivity in historically male-dominated medical fields, particularly for underrepresented populations. Ultimately, our findings underscore the crucial role of real-world data quality in mitigating AI bias. As AI continues to shape healthcare and education, the pursuit of equitable, unbiased AI applications should remain at the forefront of these transformative endeavors.

Urinary cadmium concentration is associated with the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19: a bicenter observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium and nickel exposure can cause oxidative stress, induce inflammation, inhibit immune function, and therefore has significant impacts on the pathogenesis and severity of many diseases. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can also provoke oxidative stress and the dysregulation of inflammatory and immune responses. This study aimed to assess the potential associations of cadmium and nickel exposure with the severity and clinical outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational, bicenter cohort analysis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan between June 2022 and July 2023. Cadmium and nickel concentrations in blood and urine were measured within 3 days of the diagnosis of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the severity and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 574 patients were analyzed and divided into a severe COVID-19 group (hospitalized patients) (n = 252; 43.9%), and non-severe COVID-19 group (n = 322; 56.1%). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 11.8% (n = 68). The severe COVID-19 patients were older, had significantly more comorbidities, and significantly higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 than the non-severe COVID-19 patients (all p < 0.05). Blood and urine cadmium and urine nickel concentrations were significantly higher in the severe COVID-19 patients than in the non-severe COVID-19 patients. Among the severe COVID-19 patients, those in higher urine cadmium/creatinine quartiles had a significantly higher risk of organ failure (i.e., higher APACHE II and SOFA scores), higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, lower PaO2/FiO2 requiring higher invasive mechanical ventilation support, higher risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and higher 60-, 90-day, and all-cause hospital mortality (all p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that urine cadmium/creatinine was independently associated with severe COVID-19 (adjusted OR 1.643 [95% CI 1.060-2.547], p = 0.026), and that a urine cadmium/creatinine value > 2.05 µg/g had the highest predictive value (adjusted OR 5.349, [95% CI 1.118-25.580], p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Urine cadmium concentration in the early course of COVID-19 could predict the severity and clinical outcomes of patients and was independently associated with the risk of severe COVID-19.