Enhancing COPD classification using combined quantitative computed tomography and texture-based radiomics: a CanCOLD cohort study.

Background: Recent advances in texture-based computed tomography (CT) radiomics have demonstrated its potential for classifying COPD.

Methods: Participants from the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study were evaluated. A total of 108 features were included: eight quantitative CT (qCT), 95 texture-based radiomic and five demographic features.

A fully automated pipeline for the extraction of pectoralis muscle area from chest computed tomography scans.

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-derived pectoralis muscle area (PMA) measurements are prognostic in people with or at-risk of COPD, but fully automated PMA extraction has yet to be developed. Our objective was to develop and validate a PMA extraction pipeline that can automatically: 1) identify the aortic arch slice; and 2) perform pectoralis segmentation at that slice.

Methods: CT images from the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study were used for pipeline development.

CT Imaging With Machine Learning for Predicting Progression to COPD in Individuals at Risk.

Background: Identifying individuals at risk of progressing to COPD may allow for initiation of treatment to potentially slow the progression of the disease or the selection of subgroups for discovery of novel interventions.

Research Question: Does the addition of CT imaging features, texture-based radiomic features, and established quantitative CT scan to conventional risk factors improve the performance for predicting progression to COPD in individuals who smoke with machine learning?

Study Design And Methods: Participants at risk (individuals who currently or formerly smoked, without COPD) from the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) population-based study underwent CT imaging at baseline and spirometry at baseline and follow-up. Various combinations of CT scan features, texture-based CT scan radiomics (n = 95), and established quantitative CT scan (n = 8), as well as demographic (n = 5) and spirometry (n = 3) measurements, with machine learning algorithms were evaluated to predict progression to COPD.

Oxford Hip Scores, Floor-Sitting Score Trajectories, and Postoperative Satisfaction Rates at 10 Years After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Available evidence on outcomes at 5 years and beyond for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is mainly limited to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This study documented the trajectory of functional measurement using the Oxford hip score (OHS) and floor-sitting posture in Japan for up to 10 years post-THA and investigated predictors of dissatisfaction at 10 years with THA.

Methods: Patients scheduled for primary THA at a university hospital in Japan between 2003 and 2006 were enrolled in this prospective study.

Validation of the LPA-SQUASH in post-liver-transplant patients.

Aim: This study aimed to validate the revised Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH) to measure sedentary activity in post-liver-transplant patients. The proposed scale could be useful for transplantation nurses to assess and modify sedentary lifestyles and increase physical activity.

Methods: The SQUASH was modified to include items on sitting time and light-intensity physical activity (LPA-SQUASH).

Nurses' perception towards care robots and their work experience with socially assistive technology during COVID-19: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to explore nurses' perceptions towards care robots and their work experiences in caring for older adults who use socially assistive technology. This qualitative descriptive study included 18 nurses who cared for older adults with dementia or living alone at home. Interviews via Zoom were conducted, and the collected data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Incidence of severe infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking biologic agents: a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this review was to estimate the population-based incidence and determine the types of severe infection and deaths experienced by patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking biologic agents.

Introduction: Since the late 1990s, various biologic and synthetic drugs have been developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In recent years, the incidence of severe infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Western nations has been determined by observational studies; however, no systematic review has been conducted on this topic.

Differences in risk factors for surgical site infection between laparotomy and laparoscopy in gastrointestinal surgery.

Extensive gastrointestinal surgery surveillance data in Japan were analyzed to examine the differences in the risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) between laparotomy and laparoscopic abdominal procedures. Surgical procedures investigated in the study were gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, rectal resection, and appendectomy. A total of 32,629 patients were included in the study.

Comparison of Feature Selection Methods and Machine Learning Classifiers for Predicting Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Texture-Based CT Lung Radiomic Features.

Rationale: Texture-based radiomics analysis of lung computed tomography (CT) images has been shown to predict chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status using machine learning models. However, various approaches are used and it is unclear which provides the best performance.

Objectives: To compare the most commonly used feature selection and classification methods and determine the optimal models for classifying COPD status in a mild, population-based COPD cohort.

Quantitative CT Lung Imaging and Machine Learning Improves Prediction of Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations in COPD.

Rationale: Predicting increased risk of future healthcare utilization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is an important goal for improving patient management.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the importance of computed tomography (CT) lung imaging measurements relative to other demographic and clinical measurements for predicting future health services use with machine learning in COPD.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, lung function measurements and chest CT images were acquired from Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease study participants from 2010 to 2017 (https://clinicaltrials.

Dissecting aneurysm of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in the internal auditory canal presenting with deafness without hemorrhage: A case report and literature review.

Background: Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) aneurysms in the internal auditory canal (IAC) are rare. We have reported a case of dissecting AICA aneurysm in the IAC presenting initially with the eighth nerve palsy followed by the seventh nerve palsy without hemorrhage.

Case Description: A 68-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of vertigo accompanied by deafness and tinnitus on the right side that was preceded by intermittent right retroauricular pain 2 weeks before.

Severe infection risk in patients treated with biologics for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to estimate the population-based incidence and to determine the types of severe infection experienced by patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are taking biological agents.

Introduction: Since the late 1990s, a variety of biological and synthetic drugs have been developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In recent years, the incidence of severe infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Western nations has been reported by observational studies; however, no systematic review has been conducted on this topic.

Development and evaluation of the sedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity questionnaire.

[Purpose] To describe our newly developed Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Physical Activity Questionnaire and examine its reliability and validity. [Participants and Methods] We identified and selected self-reported items through a literature review and interviews with 11 inactive individuals. Thirty-one individuals with lower limb prostheses and an expert panel assessed the content validity of the integrated items and identified 17 items.

Prospective study of objective physical activity and quality of life in living donor liver transplant recipients.

Aim: The aims of this study were to: (a) describe the physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QOL) in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients pre-operatively and at 3 months and 6 months post-operatively; (b) compare PA and QOL at 6 months post-operatively with a healthy control group; and (c) explore pre-operative factors that predict PA changes.

Methods: Patients over 20 years of age who were undergoing LDLT were recruited. PA was measured based on the number of steps/day and time spent performing moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during 1 week using an accelerometer.

The first 3-D volumetric analysis of mesencephalothalamic giant perivascular spaces showing steady and slow growth over 17 years.

Background: Giant perivascular spaces (PVSs) are very rare condition in the brain and can be associated with neurological symptoms. It often enlarges and causes obstructive hydrocephalus which requires surgical intervention. However, the growth velocity has never been investigated.

Relationships of accelerometer-determined physical activity with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and health-related quality of life in patients after liver transplantation.

The contribution of physical activity (PA) to the prevention of metabolic abnormalities following liver transplantation (LT) has not been well documented. We aimed to assess PA in post-LT patients and to quantify its relationships with the development of postoperative metabolic abnormalities and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We recruited 111 patients who had undergone LT ≥ 6 months previously.

Review and synthesis of the experience of patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty in the era of rapidly decreasing hospital length of stay.

Aim: The hospital length of stay for orthopedic surgery has been decreasing during the last couple of decades. Therefore, this study was performed to explore the postoperative experiences of adult/older patients (age ≥20 years) with osteoarthritis who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty, focusing on the first 6 weeks following discharge.

Methods: A systematic literature search on qualitative studies was conducted using six databases, such as Medline, CINAHL and Mednar.

Changes in actual daily physical activity and patient-reported outcomes up to 2 years after total knee arthroplasty with arthritis.

The current study aimed 1) to describe changes in patient-reported outcomes and physical activity measured with an accelerometer preoperatively, 6 months and 2 years postoperatively in older patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for arthritis, and 2) to examine the predictors of the changes in physical activity (PA). This study included 58 patients (mean age 72.6 years, 84.

Differences in the risk of severe falls between patients aged <65 years and patients aged ≥65 years at a psychiatric hospital based on 12-year incident reports.

Purpose: This study compared age differences in risk factors for falls requiring treatment in psychiatric patients.

Design And Methods: An incident database was used to compare fall incidents in patients aged less than 65 years and those aged greater than or equal to 65 years.

Findings: Approximately 30% of fallers were less than 65 years.

Is Barthel Index Suitable for Assessing Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Dementia?

Objectives: To evaluate application of the Barthel Index (BI) in assessing basic activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with dementia using Rasch analysis.

Design: A multi-country cross-sectional study.

Setting And Participants: Nineteen long-term care facilities located in China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

Review of outcome measures in PARO robot intervention studies for dementia care.

The aim of this study was to describe interventions for PARO, as well as the outcomes evaluated and found following use of PARO, and to identify outcome measures in PARO intervention studies for older adults with dementia. Multiple databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus) were searched and eight studies were included in the systematic review. The review demonstrated that interventions using PARO can be beneficial for improving QOL, affect, social interaction, and reducing NPS and psychotropic or pain medication use.

Three-Year Follow-Up Study of Physical Activity, Physical Function, and Health-Related Quality of Life After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Little is known about the long-term changes in physical activity (PA) after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in the number of steps and intensity of PA as measured by accelerometers, patient-reported physical function, and health-related quality of life of THA patient preoperatively and at 1 and 3 years after THA.

Methods: This study included 153 patients (mean age, 61.

Effectiveness of vibratory stimulation on needle-related procedural pain in children: a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to identify, evaluate and synthesize evidence of the effectiveness of vibratory stimulation to reduce needle-related procedural pain in children aged 18 years and younger.

Introduction: Needle-related procedures (NRPs) are common medical procedures associated with pain. Children, in particular, experience unpredictable and severe pain in response to NRPs.

Prevalence of incontinence among cognitively impaired older residents in long-term care facilities in East Asia: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The current study was an international cross-sectional study comparing the prevalence of incontinence among cognitively impaired older residents in long-term care facilities in East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Thailand between 2015 and 2016.

Methods: Participants were cognitively impaired older residents in long-term care facilities. Demographic data were collected.