Risk Projection for Time-to-event Outcome Leveraging Summary Statistics With Source Individual-level Data.

Predicting risks of chronic diseases has become increasingly important in clinical practice. When a prediction model is developed in a cohort, there is a great interest to apply the model to other cohorts. Due to potential discrepancy in baseline disease incidences between different cohorts and shifts in patient composition, the risk predicted by the model built in the source cohort often under- or over-estimates the risk in a new cohort.

Correspondence analysis for dimension reduction, batch integration, and visualization of single-cell RNA-seq data.

Effective dimension reduction is essential for single cell RNA-seq (scRNAseq) analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) is widely used, but requires continuous, normally-distributed data; therefore, it is often coupled with log-transformation in scRNAseq applications, which can distort the data and obscure meaningful variation. We describe correspondence analysis (CA), a count-based alternative to PCA.

A Combined Region- and Pixel-Based Deep Learning Approach for Quantifying Abdominal Adipose Tissue in Adolescents Using Dixon Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: The development of adipose tissue during adolescence may provide valuable insights into obesity-associated diseases. We propose an automated convolutional neural network (CNN) approach using Dixon-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantity abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in children and adolescents.

Methods: 474 abdominal Dixon MRI scans of 136 young healthy volunteers (aged 8-18) were included in this study.

Prognostic role of detailed colorectal location and tumor molecular features: analyses of 13,101 colorectal cancer patients including 2994 early-onset cases.

Background: The pathogenic effect of colorectal tumor molecular features may be influenced by several factors, including those related to microbiota, inflammation, metabolism, and epigenetics, which may change along colorectal segments. We hypothesized that the prognostic association of colon cancer location might differ by tumor molecular characteristics.

Methods: Utilizing a consortium dataset of 13,101 colorectal cancer cases, including 2994 early-onset cases, we conducted survival analyses of detailed tumor location stratified by statuses of microsatellite instability (MSI), CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), and KRAS and BRAF oncogenic mutation.

Osteopontin mediation of disturbed flow-induced endothelial mesenchymal transition through CD44 is a novel mechanism of neointimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistulae for hemodialysis access.

In dysfunctional arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) for hemodialysis access, neointimal hyperplasia (NH) is prone to occur in the region exposed to disturbed flow. We hypothesized that disturbed flow contributes to NH in AVF by inducing endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT) through activation of the osteopontin/CD44 axis. In rats with aortocaval fistula, a rodent model of AVF, we demonstrated development of EndMT and expression of osteopontin and CD44 specifically in the vicinity of the arteriovenous junction using immunostaining.

Biomechanical characteristics of self-expanding sinus stents during crimping and deployment_A comparison between different biomaterials.

Self-expanding sinus stents are often used in functional endoscopic sinus surgery to treat inflamed sinuses. The PROPEL self-expanding sinus stent offers mechanical support to the sinus cavity to prevent restenosis. The stent is made of a bioabsorbable material (PLGA) that disappears after wound healing.

Tailoring Copper Chemical Status and Hydrophobicity of Biomimetic Photocatalytic Films for Carbon Dioxide Conversion.

Naturally hierarchical nanostructures of leaves were successfully replicated on thermally stable polyimide (PI) films to obtain biomimetic substrates for the grafting of p-type semiconductor, cuprous oxide (CuO). The chemical states of CuO and the hydrophobicity on the photocatalytic films were tunable by altering the process time of ion-exchange or chemical reduction. The obtained photocatalytic films showed activity to photocatalytically convert carbon dioxide (CO) into carbon monoxide (CO) under visible light illumination.

How do we operate a large monthly red blood cell exchange program.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) exchange for sickle cell disease presents unique difficulties due to RBC phenotyping, complex antibody work-ups, large number of RBC units required, and vascular access considerations, any of which can delay the procedure. Multidisciplinary coordination and systemic processes ensure that monthly appointments remain on schedule.

Study Design And Methods: A high-volume chronic RBC exchange program is described, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary coordination and process improvement strategies involving initial referral, vascular access, order sets, and allocation of antigen-negative or phenotypically matched RBCs.

Validation of a Genetic-Enhanced Risk Prediction Model for Colorectal Cancer in a Large Community-Based Cohort.

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) which summarize individuals' genetic risk profile may enhance targeted colorectal cancer screening. A critical step towards clinical implementation is rigorous external validations in large community-based cohorts. This study externally validated a PRS-enhanced colorectal cancer risk model comprising 140 known colorectal cancer loci to provide a comprehensive assessment on prediction performance.

Blind Watermarking for Hiding Color Images in Color Images with Super-Resolution Enhancement.

This paper presents a novel approach for directly hiding the pixel values of a small color watermark in a carrier color image. Watermark embedding is achieved by modulating the gap of paired coefficient magnitudes in the discrete cosine transform domain according to the intended pixel value, and watermark extraction is the process of regaining and regulating the gap distance back to the intensity value. In a comparison study of robustness against commonly encountered attacks, the proposed scheme outperformed seven watermarking schemes in terms of zero-normalized cross-correlation (ZNCC).

The Effects of a Scenario-Based Spiritual Care Course on Spiritual Care Competence among Clinical Nurses: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Across their lifespans, and in many clinical settings, patients have spiritual care needs. Many nurses lack competence related to providing spiritual care. Popular educational strategies, such as simulated educational programs and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE), have not been widely adopted in nursing spiritual care education.

Intranasal fentanyl and discharge from the emergency department among children with sickle cell disease and vaso-occlusive pain: A multicenter pediatric emergency medicine perspective.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) commonly experience vaso-occlusive pain episodes (VOE) due to sickling of erythrocytes, which often requires care in the emergency department. Our objective was to assess the use and impact of intranasal fentanyl for the treatment of children with SCD-VOE on discharge from the emergency department in a multicenter study. We conducted a cross-sectional study at 20 academic pediatric emergency departments in the United States and Canada.

LipidA-IDER to Explore the Global Lipid A Repertoire of Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria.

With the global emergence of drug-resistant bacteria causing difficult-to-treat infections, there is an urgent need for a tool to facilitate studies on key virulence and antimicrobial resistant factors. Mass spectrometry (MS) has contributed substantially to the elucidation of the structure-function relationships of lipid A, the endotoxic component of lipopolysaccharide which also serves as an important protective barrier against antimicrobials. Here, we present LipidA-IDER, an automated structure annotation tool for system-level scale identification of lipid A from high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS) data.

Occlusal function and electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles in skeletal Class III patients with different patterns of mandibular asymmetry.

Background: Although jaw asymmetry is commonly seen in skeletal Class III patients, its correlation with occlusal function and masticatory muscle activity has not been fully elucidated.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occlusal function and masticatory muscle activity in skeletal Class III patients with various patterns of mandibular asymmetry.

Methods: Forty-two patients and 10 normal participants were examined.

Hyperforin Suppresses Oncogenic Kinases and Induces Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and protein kinase B (AKT) are essential for malignant transformation and progression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and can be considered as targets for therapeutic interventions. Hyperforin, an active constituent from Hypericum perforatum, has been reported to inhibit inflammation. However, whether hyperforin may suppress CRC progression via inactivation of JAK/STAT3, ERK or AKT signaling remains unclear.

Circulating serum amyloid A levels but not SAA1 variants predict long-term outcomes of angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Circulating serum amyloid A (SAA) levels are strongly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk and severity. The association between genetic variants, SAA levels, inflammatory marker levels, and coronary artery disease (CAD) prognosis has not been fully understood.

Materials And Methods: In total, 2199 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants were enrolled for a genome-wide association study (GWAS), and the long-term outcomes in 481 patients with CAD were analyzed.

Test-retest reliability of modular-relevant analysis in brain functional network.

Introduction: The human brain could be modeled as a complex network functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and the architecture of these brain functional networks can be studied from multiple spatial scales with different graph theory tools. Detecting modules is an important mesoscale network measuring approach that has provided crucial insights for uncovering how brain organizes itself among different functional subsystems. Despite its successful application in a wide range of brain network studies, the lack of comprehensive reliability assessment prevents its potential extension to clinical trials.

Modification of the all-cause and cardiovascular disease related mortality risk with changes in the metabolic syndrome status: a population-based prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Aim: To examine whether changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) status over time are associated with risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease related (CVD) mortality.

Methods: This prospective cohort study consisted of 544,749 individuals who participated in a self-funded comprehensive health surveillance program offered by Taiwan MJ Health Management Institution between 1998 and 2016. We included 236,216 adults who had at least two repeated MetS measures 5.

Macroscopic quantum electrodynamics approach to multichromophoric excitation energy transfer. II. Polariton-mediated population dynamics in a dimer system.

In this study, based on the theory developed in Paper I, we explore the combined effects of molecular fluorescence and excitation energy transfer in a minimal model-a pair of single-vibration-mode chromophores coupled to surface plasmon polaritons. For the chromophores with zero Huang-Rhys factors and strong couplings to surface plasmon polaritons, we find that the frequencies of Rabi oscillations (the strengths of strong light-matter couplings) are associated with the initial excitation conditions. On the other hand, for the chromophores weakly coupled to surface plasmon polaritons, our numerical calculations together with analytical analysis elaborate on the conditions for the superradiant and subradiant decay behaviors.

Deciphering colorectal cancer genetics through multi-omic analysis of 100,204 cases and 154,587 controls of European and east Asian ancestries.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. We conducted a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 100,204 CRC cases and 154,587 controls of European and east Asian ancestry, identifying 205 independent risk associations, of which 50 were unreported. We performed integrative genomic, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses across large bowel mucosa and other tissues.