Population-wide evaluation of artificial intelligence and radiologist assessment of screening mammograms.

OBJECTIVES: To validate an AI system for standalone breast cancer detection on an entire screening population in comparison to first-reading breast radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All mammography screenings performed between August 4, 2014, and August 15, 2018, in the Region of Southern Denmark with follow-up within 24 months were eligible. Screenings were assessed as normal or abnormal by breast radiologists through double reading with arbitration. For an AI decision of normal or abnormal, two AI-score cut-off points were applied by matching at mean sensitivity (AIsens) and specificity (AIspec) of first readers. Accuracy measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and recall rate (RR). RESULTS: The sample included 249,402 screenings (149,495 women) and 2033 breast cancers (72.6% screen-detected cancers, 27.4% interval cancers). AIsens had lower specificity (97.5% vs 97.7%; p < 0.0001) and PPV (17.5% vs 18.7%; p = 0.01) and a higher RR (3.0% vs 2.8%; p < 0.0001) than first readers. AIspec was comparable to first readers in terms of all accuracy measures. Both AIsens and AIspec detected significantly fewer screen-detected cancers (1166 (AIsens), 1156 (AIspec) vs 1252; p < 0.0001) but found more interval cancers compared to first readers (126 (AIsens), 117 (AIspec) vs 39; p < 0.0001) with varying types of cancers detected across multiple subgroups. CONCLUSION: Standalone AI can detect breast cancer at an accuracy level equivalent to the standard of first readers when the AI threshold point was matched at first reader specificity. However, AI and first readers detected a different composition of cancers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Replacing first readers with AI with an appropriate cut-off score could be feasible. AI-detected cancers not detected by radiologists suggest a potential increase in the number of cancers detected if AI is implemented to support double reading within screening, although the clinicopathological characteristics of detected cancers would not change significantly. KEY POINTS: • Standalone AI cancer detection was compared to first readers in a double-read mammography screening population. • Standalone AI matched at first reader specificity showed no statistically significant difference in overall accuracy but detected different cancers. • With an appropriate threshold, AI-integrated screening can increase the number of detected cancers with similar clinicopathological characteristics.

Effect of perceived stigma on work and social roles among individuals with mental health disorders in Saudi Arabia: findings from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: It is known worldwide that stigma towards mental illness exists. Studies on stigma perceived by patients with mental illness have shown decreased quality of life and a negative impact on work, school and social life. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of perceived stigma among respondents who had been diagnosed with a mental illness during the past 12 months, its association with socio-demographic variables and its effect on work and social roles limitations among Saudis. METHODS: The Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS) data were used for the analysis. The SNMHS is a nationally representative survey that was conducted using face-to -face interviews with Saudi individuals (age 15-65) in their households. Respondents were diagnosed (N = 639) with mental disorders based on a well-validated questionnaire-the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0. Two dimensions from CIDI assessed perceived stigma: embarrassment and perceived discrimination. RESULTS: The prevalence of perceived stigma was 27.8% among mentally ill respondents. Stigma was lower among respondents who didn't seek any type of treatment than those who sought treatment OR = 0.28 (95% CI 0.084-0.935, P = 0.03). Respondents who reported perceived stigma had more work role limitations (OR = 1.1 95% CI 1.01-0.10 P 0.006) and social limitations (OR = 1.3 95% CI 0.99-1.62 P 0.05) than respondents who didn't report stigma. CONCLUSION: Perceived stigma is experienced by mentally ill individuals and it negatively affects their work and social roles. Awareness programs to remove stigma and educate the public are needed to be established by policymakers and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

Parental education and inequalities in child mortality: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The educational attainment of parents, particularly mothers, has been associated with lower levels of child mortality, yet there is no consensus on the magnitude of this relationship globally. We aimed to estimate the total reductions in under-5 mortality that are associated with increased maternal and paternal education, during distinct age intervals. METHODS: This study is a comprehensive global systematic review and meta-analysis of all existing studies of the effects of parental education on neonatal, infant, and under-5 child mortality, combined with primary analyses of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. The literature search of seven databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) was done between Jan 23 and Feb 8, 2019, and updated on Jan 7, 2021, with no language or publication date restrictions. Teams of independent reviewers assessed each record for its inclusion of individual-level data on parental education and child mortality and excluded articles on the basis of study design and availability of relevant statistics. Full-text screening was done in 15 languages. Data extracted from these studies were combined with primary microdata from the DHS for meta-analyses relating maternal or paternal education with mortality at six age intervals: 0-27 days, 1-11 months, 1-4 years, 0-4 years, 0-11 months, and 1 month to 4 years. Novel mixed-effects meta-regression models were implemented to address heterogeneity in referent and exposure measures among the studies and to adjust for study-level covariates (wealth or income, partner's years of schooling, and sex of the child). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020141731). FINDINGS: The systematic review returned 5339 unique records, yielding 186 included studies after exclusions. DHS data were compiled from 114 unique surveys, capturing 3 112 474 livebirths. Data extracted from the systematic review were synthesized together with primary DHS data, for meta-analysis on a total of 300 studies from 92 countries. Both increased maternal and paternal education showed a dose-response relationship linked to reduced under-5 mortality, with maternal education emerging as a stronger predictor. We observed a reduction in under-5 mortality of 31·0% (95% CI 29·0-32·6) for children born to mothers with 12 years of education (ie, completed secondary education) and 17·3% (15·0-18·8) for children born to fathers with 12 years of education, compared with those born to a parent with no education. We also showed that a single additional year of schooling was, on average, associated with a reduction in under-5 mortality of 3·04% (2·82-3·23) for maternal education and 1·57% (1·35-1·72) for paternal education. The association between higher parental education and lower child mortality was significant for both parents at all ages studied and was largest after the first month of life. The meta-analysis framework incorporated uncertainty associated with each individual effect size into the model fitting process, in an effort to decrease the risk of bias introduced by study design and quality. INTERPRETATION: To our knowledge, this study is the first effort to systematically quantify the transgenerational importance of education for child survival at the global level. The results showed that lower maternal and paternal education are both risk factors for child mortality, even after controlling for other markers of family socioeconomic status. This study provides robust evidence for universal quality education as a mechanism to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.2 of reducing neonatal and child mortality. FUNDING: Research Council of Norway, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation-Boston University Commission on Social Determinants, Data, and Decision Making (3-D Commission).

The prevalence and correlates of bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa: The Saudi National Mental Health Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Limited studies have been conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on eating disorders (EDs). This study presents national epidemiological survey data on the prevalence and correlates of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED) and their association with other mental health disorders, impairment in role functioning, and individual help-seeking behaviors in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). METHOD: A face-to-face survey was conducted in a nationally representative household sample of Saudi citizens aged 15-65 (n = 4004). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0) was used to produce estimates of lifetime and 12-month prevalence and treatment of common DSM-IV mental disorders. RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of any of the three EDs was 3.2%; the overall lifetime prevalence was 6.1%. Education and marital status were significantly associated with both 12-month and lifetime EDs prevalence. Significant mental health comorbidities associated with 12-month EDs were anxiety, mood, and impulse-control disorders, while lifetime EDs were significantly related to all disorders. A similar percentage of respondents that reported having ED-related treatment at some point in their lifetime utilized healthcare and nonhealthcare sector. There was a significant relationship between body mass index category, and lifetime BED and BN. DISCUSSION: The 12-month prevalence of EDs in the Saudi population was higher than the EDs rates reported worldwide. These findings can help healthcare experts, and policymakers in the implementation of initiatives for raising awareness of EDs among the Saudi population, and the development of a country-wide plan for the prevention of EDs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The study presents data on the prevalence, correlates, and help-seeking behaviors of AN, BN, and BED, in the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). Obtaining information on this underrepresented region is essential due to the large differences in cross-national data in addition to cultural beliefs about mental illness and treatment seeking to exert an important influence on eating disorders. Such knowledge could provide a better understand of mechanisms underlying the development of eating disorders and thereby improve prediction, prevention, and treatment.

Salivary duct carcinoma: a Danish national study.

BACKGROUND: To present the first national series of salivary duct carcinoma patients, including survival rates and an analysis of prognostic factors. METHODS: By merging three Danish nationwide registries that encompass an entire population, 34 patients diagnosed with salivary duct carcinoma from 1990 to 2005 were identified. Histological slides were reviewed, and data concerning demographics, tumour site, clinical stage, treatment profiles and follow-up were retrieved. Survival estimates and prognostic factors were evaluated by comparing Kaplan-Meier plots using the Mantel-Haenszel log-rank test. RESULTS: Salivary duct carcinoma showed an incidence of 0.04/100.000 inhabitants/year. Distant recurrence was seen in 52% of patients. Five-year overall survival, disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival were 32%, 42% and 35%, respectively. Univariate analyses suggested that overall stage (III/IV) and vascular invasion have a negative impact on all survival measures. Involved resection margins correlated with a poorer overall survival and disease-specific survival, whereas adjuvant radiotherapy improved overall survival and recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary duct carcinoma incidence averages to two episodes per year in the entire Kingdom of Denmark. With half of patients in this study experiencing distant recurrences and only a third surviving at 5 years, prognosis is dismal. Advanced overall stage, vascular invasion and involved resection margins all seem to correlate with a poorer survival, while adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improved outcome. Extensive T-site surgery, neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy are therefore recommended.

Sex differences in the association between vitamin D and prediabetes in adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D status has been shown to be associated with prediabetes risk. However, epidemiologic evidence on whether sex modulates the association between vitamin D and prediabetes is limited. The present study investigated sex-specific associations between vitamin D and prediabetes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The Kuwait Wellbeing Study, a population-based cross-sectional study, enrolled nondiabetic adults. Prediabetes was defined as 5.7 ≤ HbA1c% ≤6.4; 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in venous blood and analyzed as a continuous, dichotomous (deficiency: <50 nmol/L vs. insufficiency/sufficiency ≥50 nmol/L), and categorical (tertiles) variable. Associations were evaluated by estimating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while stratifying by sex. RESULTS: A total of 384 participants (214 males and 170 females) were included in the current analysis, with a median age of 40.5 (interquartile range: 33.0-48.0) years. The prevalence of prediabetes was 35.2%, and 63.0% of participants had vitamin D deficiency. Assessments of statistical interaction between sex and 25(OH)D status were statistically significant (PSex × 25(OH)D Interaction < 0.05). In the sex-stratified analysis, after adjustment for confounding factors, decreased 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased prevalence of prediabetes in males (aPRDeficiency vs. In-/Sufficiency: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.36-4.07), but not in females (aPRDeficiency vs. In-/Sufficiency: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.60-1.77). Moreover, the prevalence of prediabetes differed between males and females at 25(OH)D levels of ≤35 nmol/L, with a higher prevalence of prediabetes in males compared to females. Such a sex-specific difference was not observed at 25(OH)D levels of >35 nmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Sex modified the association between vitamin D levels and prediabetes, with an inverse association observed among males, but not among females. Moreover, the observed sex-disparity in the prevalence of prediabetes was only pronounced at 25(OH)D levels of ≤35 nmol/L.

Factors Affecting the Duration of Hospitalization in Urology and Nephrology Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction Prolonged stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) are known to increase the risk of adverse outcomes following severe conditions. This study focuses on the factors affecting ICU length of stay, particularly in Urology and Nephrology patients who require intensive monitoring and specialized care, and their impact on patient outcomes. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 45 patients. Data was collected using a validated closed-ended questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The study found positive associations between prolonged ICU stay and several factors, including elevated total bilirubin levels, deranged creatinine, urea, sodium, and calcium levels, as well as abnormal C-reactive protein levels. Higher bilirubin levels and positive blood and culture results were linked to extended ICU stays. Additionally, the use of contrast CT and MRI was associated with longer ICU durations. Conversely, broad-spectrum antibiotics showed a negative association with ICU stay length, while transfusion of blood products was positively associated with longer stays. Conclusion Understanding these factors can help improve the management of ICU patients and enhance outcomes in future cases.

Social determinants of anxiety and mood disorders in a nationally-representative sample - Results from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS).

INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDH) influence and modify the risk for mental health disorders. To our knowledge, no study has explored SDH in the context of mental health in Saudi Arabia (SA) using population-based data. This study investigated the association between several SDH and anxiety and mood disorders in SA. METHODS: We utilized data from the nationally-representative Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS) conducted in 2014 to 2016. This study examined associations between personal-level, socioeconomic, physical health, and family environment characteristics and anxiety and mood disorders. Participants were classified as having anxiety-only disorders, mood-only disorders, or comorbidity of both disorders. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations between SDH and anxiety and/or mood disorders, comparing them to participants who had not experienced these disorders. RESULTS: A total of 4,004 participants were included in this analysis; the lifetime prevalence of disorders was: anxiety only (18%), mood only (3.8%), and comorbidity of both (5.3%). Regression models indicated that females, young adults (26-35 years), individuals with a higher level of education, and those who were separated or widowed had higher odds of experiencing anxiety and/or mood disorders. Furthermore, there was a significant and direct association between having physical chronic conditions and all three categories of anxiety and mood disorders. Experiencing Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) was also associated with a significant risk of developing anxiety and/or mood disorders, with the highest risk associated with physical or sexual abuse, followed by violence and neglect. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the correlation between several personal-level, socioeconomic, and environmental SDH and anxiety and mood disorders in SA. These findings provide a foundation for future analyses examining the intricate interplay between upstream and downstream SDH in SA. Such research can enhance local scientific knowledge, aid in planning for social services, and inform policy decisions and treatment strategies.

The Prevalence and Awareness of Regular Follow Up of Patients Treated with Phototherapy for Skin Cancer Surveillance.

Objective Background: Regular full-body skin examination is commonly ignored in patients post-phototherapy, despite ultraviolet (UV) radiation being carcinogenic. Our objectives are to assess the prevalence of regular follow-up and full-body skin examination for patients treated with phototherapy, as well as the relationship between phototherapy exposure and the development of skin cancer in Saudi Arabia. Methods Settings Design: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted from January 2022 to July 2022. The study included 99 patients, selected via simple random sampling, from King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who underwent phototherapy for at least 8 weeks and were followed for a minimum of 18 months post-treatment. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were called and given a questionnaire. Results: Out of 99 patients, only 26 (26.26%) underwent full-body skin examinations by their physicians after phototherapy treatment. The average follow-up time after phototherapy was 3.2 years. Most study participants (85.85%) were unaware that cancer was a possible complication of phototherapy. Participants with knowledge about skin cancer complications were more likely to have undergone a full-body exam (P = 0.001). None of the participants developed any type of skin cancer after phototherapy. Conclusion: Patients treated with phototherapy had no adequate information about the risk of skin cancer. The incidence of skin cancer was zero in our small cohort. Dermatologists in Saudi Arabia do not have an evidence-based notion regarding the risk of skin cancer among the Arab population after phototherapy. Since There is a lack of data examining the relationship between phototherapy and skin cancer in the Arab region, this study should trigger future studies with large populations and longer follow up periods.

Artificial intelligence for MRI stroke detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the stroke detection performance of artificial intelligence (AI) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and additionally to identify reporting insufficiencies. METHODS: PRISMA guidelines were followed. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, and IEEE Xplore were searched for studies utilising MRI and AI for stroke detection. The protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021289748). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were the primary outcomes. Only studies using MRI in adults were included. The intervention was AI for stroke detection with ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in separate categories. Any manual labelling was used as a comparator. A modified QUADAS-2 tool was used for bias assessment. The minimum information about clinical artificial intelligence modelling (MI-CLAIM) checklist was used to assess reporting insufficiencies. Meta-analyses were performed for sensitivity, specificity, and hierarchical summary ROC (HSROC) on low risk of bias studies. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were eligible for inclusion. Fifteen studies had a low risk of bias. Low-risk studies were better for reporting MI-CLAIM items. Only one study examined a CE-approved AI algorithm. Forest plots revealed detection sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 93% with identical performance in the HSROC analysis and positive and negative likelihood ratios of 12.6 and 0.079. CONCLUSION: Current AI technology can detect ischaemic stroke in MRI. There is a need for further validation of haemorrhagic detection. The clinical usability of AI stroke detection in MRI is yet to be investigated. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This first meta-analysis concludes that AI, utilising diffusion-weighted MRI sequences, can accurately aid the detection of ischaemic brain lesions and its clinical utility is ready to be uncovered in clinical trials. KEY POINTS: There is a growing interest in AI solutions for detection aid. The performance is unknown for MRI stroke assessment. AI detection sensitivity and specificity were 93% and 93% for ischaemic lesions. There is limited evidence for the detection of patients with haemorrhagic lesions. AI can accurately detect patients with ischaemic stroke in MRI.

Association of Antithrombotic Drug Use With Incident Intracerebral Hemorrhage Location.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few population-based studies have assessed associations between the use of antithrombotic (platelet antiaggregant or anticoagulant) drugs and location-specific risks of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (s-ICH). In this study, we estimated associations between antithrombotic drug use and the risk of lobar vs nonlobar incident s-ICH. METHODS: Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified cases in the Southern Denmark Region of first-ever s-ICH in patients aged 50 years or older between 2009 and 2018. Each verified case was classified as lobar or nonlobar s-ICH and matched to controls in the general population by age, sex, and calendar year. Prior antithrombotic use was ascertained from a nationwide prescription registry. We calculated odds ratios (aORs) for associations between the use of clopidogrel, aspirin, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA), and lobar and nonlobar ICH in conditional logistic regression analyses that were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 1,040 cases of lobar (47.9% men, mean age [SD] 75.2 [10.7] years) and 1,263 cases of nonlobar s-ICH (54.2% men, mean age 73.6 [11.4] years) were matched to 41,651 and 50,574 controls, respectively. A stronger association with lobar s-ICH was found for clopidogrel (cases: 7.6%, controls: 3.5%; aOR 3.46 [95% CI 2.45-4.89]) vs aspirin (cases: 22.9%, controls: 20.4%; aOR 2.14 [1.74-2.63; p = 0.019). Corresponding estimates for nonlobar s-ICH were not different between clopidogrel (cases: 5.4%, controls: 3.4%; aOR 2.44 [1.71-3.49]) and aspirin (cases: 20.7%, controls: 19.2%; aOR 1.77 [1.47-2.15]; p = 0.12). VKA use was associated with higher odds of both lobar (cases: 14.3%, controls: 6.1%; aOR 3.66 [2.78-4.80]) and nonlobar (cases: 15.4%, controls: 5.5%; aOR 4.62 [3.67-5.82]) s-ICH. The association of DOAC use with lobar s-ICH (cases: 3.5%, controls: 2.7%; aOR 1.66 [1.02-2.70]) was weaker than that of VKA use (p = 0.006). Corresponding estimates for nonlobar s-ICH were not different between DOACs (cases: 5.1%, controls: 2.4%; aOR 3.44 [2.33-5.08]) and VKAs (p = 0.20). DISCUSSION: Antithrombotics were associated with higher risks of s-ICH, but the strength of the associations varied by s-ICH location and drug, which may reflect differences in the cerebral microangiopathies associated with lobar vs nonlobar hemorrhages and the mechanisms of drug action.

Multiparametric Prostate MRI Accuracy of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (v2.1) Scores 4 and 5: The Influence of Image Quality According to the Prostate Imaging Quality Score.

Purpose: The accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) heavily relies on image quality, as evidenced by the evolution of the prostate imaging quality (PI-QUAL) scoring system for the evaluation of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC). This study aims to evaluate the impact of PI-QUAL scores in detecting csPC within PI-RADS 4 and 5 lesions. Methods: We retrospectively selected from our database all mpMRI performed from January 2019 to March 2022. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) mpMRI acquired in our institution according to the technical requirements from the PI-RADS (v2.1) guidelines; (2) single lesion scored as PI-RADS (v2.1) 4 or 5; (3) MRI-TBx performed in our institution; (4) complete histology report; and (5) complete clinical record. Results: A total of 257 male patients, mean age 70.42 ± 7.6 years, with a single PI-RADS 4 or 5 lesion undergoing MRI-targeted biopsy, were retrospectively studied. Of these, 61.5% were PI-RADS 4, and 38.5% were PI-RADS 5, with 84% confirming neoplastic cells. In high-quality image lesions (PI-QUAL ≥ 4), all PI-RADS 5 lesions were accurately identified as positive at the final histological examination (100% of CDR). For PI-RADS 4 lesions, 37 (23%) were negative, resulting in a cancer detection rate of 77% (95% CI: 67.51-84.83). Conclusions: The accuracy of mpMRI, independently of the PI-RADS score, progressively decreased according to the decreasing PI-QUAL score. These findings emphasize the crucial role of the PI-QUAL scoring system in evaluating PI-RADS 4 and 5 lesions, influencing mpMRI accuracy.

Brief communication: Effect of nomadic subsistence practices on lactase persistence associated genetic variation in Kuwait.

Lactase persistence (LP)-the ability to digest lactose in adulthood-is paradigmatic of Holocenic dietary change affecting the evolutionary trajectory of specific populations. Kuwait represents one location of high LP where the variation in associated genomic regions has not been examined. Here, we present new sequence data from a 427 bp amplicon 14 kb upstream of the LCT (lactase) gene for two Bedouin tribal populations, the Ajman and Mutran. We estimate the frequency of known LP associated alleles and discuss the impact of nomadic-pastoralism on the associated genetic variation. We observe high frequency (56% on average) of the -13,915*G allele in both tribes, which is consistent with the high prevalence of LP in Kuwait. Whilst LP associated alleles occur in Kuwait at a similar frequency to other regional populations, we suggest that the -13,915*G allele frequency among the Kuwaiti Bedouin may be higher than among non-Bedouin Kuwaitis, possibly due to greater historical reliance on milk consumption or genetic drift.

Anthropometric and DXA-derived measures of body composition in relation to pre-diabetes among adults.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal obesity is the most common risk factor of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Currently, several types of indices are used for the determination of visceral fat-related abdominal obesity. To better understand the effect of the different adiposity indices, we sought to evaluate the association of different adiposity measurements, assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and pre-diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1184 adults between 18 and 65 years who participated in the Kuwait Wellbeing Study. Anthropometry measurements included body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Total body fat (TBF) mass, android fat mass, gynoid fat, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass were measured using the Lunar iDXA. Pre-diabetes was defined as 5.7≤HbA1c%≤6.4. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs were estimated. Area under the curve (AUC) was estimated for each adiposity measurement as predictor of pre-diabetes. RESULTS: A total of 585 (49.4%) males and 599 (50.6%) females were enrolled in the study. Increased BMI (aPR obese vs normal=1.59, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.12), waist-to-hip ratio (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.25, 0.96 to 1.61), TBF (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.58, 1.20 to 2.07), android fat (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.67, 1.27 to 2.20), gynoid fat (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.48, 1.16 to 1.89), android-to-gynoid fat ratio (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.70, 1.27 to 2.28), and VAT mass (aPR Q4 vs Q1=2.05, 1.49 to 2.82) were associated with elevated pre-diabetes prevalence. Gynoid fat was associated with pre-diabetes among males (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.71, 1.22 to 2.41), but not among females (aPR Q4 vs Q1=1.27, 0.90 to 1.78). Moreover, in terms of AUC, VAT had the highest estimated AUC of 0.680, followed by android-to-gynoid fat ratio (AUC: 0.647) and android fat (AUC: 0.646). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-diabetes prevalence increased as adiposity measurements increased, with VAT mass demonstrating the highest AUC for pre-diabetes.

A Case Report of Necrotizing Fasciitis Managed With the Application of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to Achieve Better Wound Closure.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection of the soft tissues that involves the skin, subcutaneous fat, fascia, and muscle. It can rapidly spread and lead to tissue death, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, cardiopulmonary failure, and even death, especially in patients with chronic diseases, immunocompromised status, or immobility. To control the spread of necrosis, prompt diagnosis and aggressive surgical intervention with radical debridement of the affected tissues are essential, along with the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and intensive care support, when required. The application of negative pressure wound therapy has been utilized in the management of acute and complicated wounds with good outcomes. Here, we present a case of an 82-year-old female who presented with fever, tachycardia, and hypotension with underlying comorbid conditions of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and spinal stenosis. On further exploration, she was found to have necrotizing fasciitis involving the left gluteal region. The present article describes the use of a vacuum-assisted closure dressing as an adjunct to serial debridement in the treatment of severe necrotizing fasciitis.

Prostate cancer metastasis mimicking appendicitis-A rare but important differential diagnosis in PET/CT imaging.

Prostate cancer most commonly metastasizes to lymph nodes, bones, the liver, and the lungs. Prostate cancer carcinomatosis with an affinity for the appendix is not well described in current literature and is usually reported with acute appendicitis as the primary presentation. A 65-year-old male with a history of recurrent prostate cancer presented with an increase in PSA value. 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT showed nodular tissue growth and increased PSMA uptake in the prostate, on the appendix, in the umbilicus, and in several intra- and extra pelvic lymph nodes. The patient had no symptomatic complaints at time of referral. Imaging findings of the appendix resembling characteristic findings of acute appendicitis raised doubts about the interpretation of these as inflammatory disease or peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to prostate cancer. This case demonstrates the importance of correct differentiation between the 2 conditions based on imaging, clinical symptomatology, and patient history to provide proper care in time.

Towards robust autonomous driving systems through adversarial test set generation.

Correct environmental perception of objects on the road is vital for the safety of autonomous driving. Making appropriate decisions by the autonomous driving algorithm could be hindered by data perturbations and more recently, by adversarial attacks. We propose an adversarial test input generation approach based on uncertainty to make the machine learning (ML) model more robust against data perturbations and adversarial attacks. Adversarial attacks and uncertain inputs can affect the ML model's performance, which can have severe consequences such as the misclassification of objects on the road by autonomous vehicles, leading to incorrect decision-making. We show that we can obtain more robust ML models for autonomous driving by making a dataset that includes highly-uncertain adversarial test inputs during the re-training phase. We demonstrate an improvement in the accuracy of the robust model by more than 12%, with a notable drop in the uncertainty of the decisions returned by the model. We believe our approach will assist in further developing risk-aware autonomous systems.

Choice of Assessment and Subsequent Risk of Breast Cancer among Women with False-Positive Mammography Screening.

Women with false-positive mammography screening results have a two- to four-fold higher risk of breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate if the subsequent risk of breast cancer after a false-positive mammography screening is associated with the received diagnostic assessment. The study population consisted of women who underwent false-positive mammography screening from January 2010 to June 2019. They were categorised into seven groups depending on the elements in the assessment (standard care: additional mammography, ultrasound, and if they had a relevant biopsy). Risks of interval cancer, next-round screen-detected cancer, and long-term breast cancer for non-standard care assessments were compared to standard care assessments using Binomial and Cox regression models. We included 44,279 women with a false-positive result. Invasive assessments that lacked an ultrasound or additional mammography were not more associated with an increased risk of subsequent cancers compared to that of 'all three elements'. The few assessments that included 'only ultrasound' or 'only mammography' resulted in higher relative risks of next-round screen-detected cancer of 1.52 (95% CI: 0.93-2.47) and 1.67 (95% CI: 0.54-5.16), respectively, compared to that of standard care. The increased subsequent risk of breast cancer among women with a previous false-positive result was not found to be correlated with the choice of elements in the assessment process.

Understanding the burden of mental and physical health disorders on families: findings from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence and correlation of factors of family burden associated with mental and physical disorders in the general population of Saudi Arabia. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A secondary analysis of data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). OUTCOME MEASURES: Mental and physical health disorders of first-degree relatives and objective (time, financial) and subjective (distress, embarrassment) family burden. RESULTS: We found significant caregiver burden for family members with mental health disorders. Around one-third of the sample was providing care for a family member with a health issue. Within this group, 40% had a mental health diagnosis. 73% of the study population reported experiencing some form of burden as a result of the care they are obligated to provide for their family members. We found the highest burden on male caregivers, in providing care for family members with serious memory disorders, mental retardation, schizophrenia or psychosis, followed by, alcohol and drug disorders, anxiety, depression or manic depression. CONCLUSION: Our findings for family burden were statistically significant, indicating potential negative impact on caregiver coping ability with the demands of caring for family members with health issues. A comprehensive review of national mental health policies is required to integrate aspects of community mental health promotion, scale-up prevention, screening interventions and social support to protect against the difficulties of mental illness and reduce the burden on caregivers, the family, society, health system and the economy.

Dual burden of chronic physical conditions and mental disorders: Findings from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey.

Introduction: Comorbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions are a common medical burden reported among Western countries. National estimates of such comorbidities among the general population of Arab countries like Saudi Arabia are unknown. This study examined the prevalence of lifetime chronic physical conditions among the Saudi general population with DSM-IV 12-month mental disorders, and the associations with disability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: The Saudi National Mental Health Survey, a cross-sectional household study - part of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Consortium - was conducted between 2013-2016 in the KSA, with 4,001 Saudi citizens aged 15-65 (response rate 61%). The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was used to assess prevalence of lifetime chronic physical conditions and 12-month mental disorders; disability was measured in terms of days out of role. Results: The prevalence of any comorbid 12-month mental disorder among those with chronic physical conditions was 24%. Major depressive disorder, social phobia, and adult separation anxiety disorder were the most common comorbid mental disorders across all chronic physical conditions. Gender, education, income, urbanicity, region, and employment were associated with the presence of any chronic physical condition. Respondents with mental / physical comorbidities had 2.97 days out of role (on average) in the last 30 days. Conclusion: Comorbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions are common among Saudis. National efforts are needed to increase awareness of such comorbidities among the general population, and develop prevention and treatment services tailored to the needs of individuals at-risk for comorbidities.