A real-time approach for surgical activity recognition and prediction based on transformer models in robot-assisted surgery.

Purpose: This paper presents a deep learning approach to recognize and predict surgical activity in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RAMIS). Our primary objective is to deploy the developed model for implementing a real-time surgical risk monitoring system within the realm of RAMIS.

Methods: We propose a modified Transformer model with the architecture comprising no positional encoding, 5 fully connected layers, 1 encoder, and 3 decoders.

Merrem's Hump-Nosed Viper () Bite on the Tongue of an Infant Leading to Upper Airway Obstruction: An Unusual Presentation.

Snakebites in unusual anatomical locations may lead to life-threatening consequences. Merrem's hump-nosed viper () is a medically important snake in Sri Lanka and India that causes many bites and envenomings. Their bites occur almost exclusively on upper and lower limbs and commonly result in local effects, with some patients developing systemic envenoming.

Graph Node Classification to Predict Autism Risk in Genes.

This study explores the genetic risk associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using graph neural networks (GNNs), leveraging the Sfari dataset and protein interaction network (PIN) data. We built a gene network with genes as nodes, chromosome band location as node features, and gene interactions as edges. Graph models were employed to classify the autism risk associated with newly introduced genes (test set).

Quality of life of patients treated with robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region: a scoping review of empirical evidence.

Background: There is a blooming trend in the application of robotic surgery in oral and maxillofacial care, and different studies had evaluated the quality of life (QoL) outcomes among patients who underwent robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region. However, empirical evidence on the QoL outcomes from these procedures is yet to be mapped. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the available scientific evidence and gaps concerning the QoL outcomes of patients treated with robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Active Range of Motion Measurement System Using an Optical Sensor to Evaluate Hand Functions.

Impairment of hand function greatly affects the independence of a human being. Proper assessment of hand function before and after any treatment for functional restoration is important to decide better treatment strategies. Despite traditional techniques of hand function evaluation, individual joint based assessment is vital to better track the details of the hand function.

Hierarchical Knowledge Propagation and Distillation for Few-Shot Learning.

Recent research efforts on Few-Shot Learning (FSL) have achieved extensive progress. However, the existing efforts primarily focus on the transductive setting of FSL, which is heavily challenged by the limited quantity of the unlabeled query set. Although a few inductive-based FSL methods have been studied, most of them emphasize learning superb feature extraction networks.

Mid- and long-term outcomes after surgical correction of subaortic stenosis: a 27-year experience.

Objectives: We reviewed the mid- and long-term surgical outcomes of patients with subaortic stenosis (SAS).

Methods: Patients operated for SAS from April 1990 to August 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with major associations such as aortic arch obstruction were excluded.

2.5-mm articulated endoluminal forceps using a compliant mechanism.

Purpose: Gastrointestinal cancer can be treated using a flexible endoscope through a natural orifice. However, treatment instruments with limited degrees of freedom (DOFs) require a highly skilled operator. Articulated devices useful for endoluminal procedures, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection and biopsy, have been developed.

Treatment of difficult-to-treat-dermatophytosis: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Introduction: Difficult-to-treat dermatophytosis is an emerging public health problem in Sri Lanka. Safe, effective and affordable treatment is needed to solve this problem. Therefore this study has assessed the effectiveness and safety of modified Whitfield ointment applied twice daily with oral griseofulvin 500 mg daily given over 8 weeks in patients with difficult-to-treat dermatophytosis.

Survival and complications in patients with haemoglobin E thalassaemia in Sri Lanka: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Worldwide, haemoglobin E β-thalassaemia is the most common genotype of severe β-thalassaemia. The paucity of long-term data for this form of thalassaemia makes evidence-based management challenging. We did a long-term observational study to define factors associated with survival and complications in patients with haemoglobin E thalassaemia.

Leg Ulcers: A Report in Patients with Hemoglobin E Beta Thalassemia and Review of the Literature in Severe Beta Thalassemia.

Background: Leg ulcers are a frequent complication in patients with the inherited hemoglobin disorders. In thalassemia, the literature is limited, and factors associated with the development of leg ulcers in hemoglobin E (HbE) beta thalassemia, the most common form of severe beta-thalassemia worldwide, have not previously been reported.

Methods: We reviewed all available medical records of patients with HbE beta thalassemia to document the onset of leg ulcers at the 2 largest treatment centers in Sri Lanka.

Light-emitting Diode Light Therapy for Facial Seborrhoeic Dermatitis: A Case Report.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic, relapsing, papulosquamous inflammatory itchy dermatoses. It manifests as erythematous papules, macules, or ill-defined flat plaques with varying levels of scaling and pruritus. The exact pathogenesis of this condition is not known but yeasts, hormones (androgens), amount of sebum produced, and deranged immune response are known to play important roles in its development.

Sickle cell disease in Sri Lanka: clinical and molecular basis and the unanswered questions about disease severity.

Background: Though case reports and limited case series of Sickle cell disease in Sri Lanka have been reported previously, no attempt has been made hitherto to undertake a comprehensive genotypic-phenotypic analysis of this "rare" group of patients.

Results: All accessible Sickle cell disease patients, totaling 60, including, 51 Sickle β-thalassaemia and 9 homozygous sickle patients were enrolled from seven thalassaemia treatment centres between December 2016-March 2019. The majority of patients were of Sinhalese ethnicity (n = 52, 86.

Psychological morbidity among children with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia and their parents in Sri Lanka.

Background: Thalassaemia is a chronic disease which requires lifelong treatment in a majority. Despite recent advances in the medical care, minimal attempts are made to improve psychological health in these patients. In this study, we aim to describe the psychological morbidity in patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia and their mothers in Sri Lanka.

Health related quality of life among children with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia major and haemoglobin E β-thalassaemia in Sri Lanka: a case control study.

Background: Thalassaemia is a chronic disease without an effective cure in a majority. The clinical management has improved considerably during recent years; however, minimal attempts are made to up lift the quality of life among patients, especially in developing countries. Here we aim to describe and compare and to determine factors associated with health related quality of life among patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia major and haemoglobin E β-thalassemia in Sri Lanka.

Blood transfusion therapy for β-thalassemia major and hemoglobin E β-thalassemia: Adequacy, trends, and determinants in Sri Lanka.

Background: Regular blood transfusion therapy still remains the cornerstone in the management of β-thalassemia. Although recommendations are clear for patients with β-thalassemia major, uniform transfusion guidelines are lacking for patients with hemoglobin E β-thalassemia. In this study, we aim to describe the adequacy, trends, and determinants of blood transfusion therapy in a large cohort of pediatric patients with β-thalassemia major and hemoglobin E β-thalassemia.

Agreement between Future Parents on Infant Feeding Intentions and Its Association with Breastfeeding Duration: Results from the Cohort Study.

Maternal intentions are believed to have the strongest influence on infant feeding. However, what has rarely been studied, are the associations of maternal and partner intentions, and the influence these factors have on infant feeding. Our objective was to describe breastfeeding intentions of pregnant women and their partners, agreement about these intentions, and whether this agreement is associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration.

Towards Control of a Transhumeral Prosthesis with EEG Signals.

Robotic prostheses are expected to allow amputees greater freedom and mobility. However, available options to control transhumeral prostheses are reduced with increasing amputation level. In addition, for electromyography-based control of prostheses, the residual muscles alone cannot generate sufficiently different signals for accurate distal arm function.

Breastfeeding indicators among a nationally representative multi-ethnic sample of New Zealand children.

Aims: To describe breastfeeding initiation and duration, and demographic associations with breastfeeding duration within a representative sample of New Zealand infants.

Methods: In 6,685 singletons enrolled in the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort we described breastfeeding initiation (96%), any (94%) and exclusive (93%) breastfeeding (EBF) duration. We used adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to describe associations with breastfeeding duration.

Widespread prevalence of a CREBRF variant amongst Māori and Pacific children is associated with weight and height in early childhood.

Objective: Investigating a large and ethnically diverse cohort from the Pacific region, we aimed to replicate and extend the recently reported findings that a CREBRF genetic variant is strongly associated with body mass index in Samoans.

Methods: A birth cohort of more than six thousand children was utilised. In this study, genotyping of two markers (rs12513649 and rs373863828) was undertaken in Māori, Pacific, European and Asian individuals in the cohort.

Sociodemographic profile and oral health status of thalassemic patients attending the National Thalassaemia Centre, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the sociodemographic profile and oral health status (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth [DMFT] and periodontal health) of thalassemic patients compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: The data were collected by means of an interviewer-administered, pretested, and validated questionnaire, followed by oral examination. Patients attending the outpatient department, who were age and sex matched, but without any diagnosed or suspected long-term illnesses, were considered for the control group.

Development of a multi-DoF transhumeral robotic arm prosthesis.

An anthropomorphic transhumeral robotic arm prosthesis is proposed in this study. It is capable of generating fifteen degrees-of-freedom, seven active and eight passive. In order to realize wrist motions, a parallel manipulator-based mechanism is proposed.

Maternal health in pregnancy and associations with adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Objective: To examine prospectively multiple indicators of pregnancy health and associations with adverse birth outcomes within a large, diverse sample of contemporary women.

Design: A cohort of pregnant women who gave birth during 2009-10.

Population: We enrolled a sample of 6822 pregnant New Zealand (NZ) women: 11% of all births in NZ during the recruitment period.