Artificial intelligence in antidiabetic drug discovery: The advances in QSAR and the prediction of α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming drug discovery, particularly in the hit identification phase of therapeutic compounds. One tool that has been instrumental in this transformation is Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) analysis. This computer-aided drug design tool uses machine learning to predict the biological activity of new compounds based on the numerical representation of chemical structures against various biological targets.

Telling our stories: describing the experiences and contributions of African migrants living with HIV.

HIV in the UK is concentrated in a few key populations, and African migrants are among them. To date, there has been no documented record of the personal experiences of this group to accompany the significant amount of epidemiological data on these communities. There is no record celebrating the contribution, resilience and lived experience of Africans living with HIV in the UK, their allies and their response to the epidemic.

Human examination and artificial intelligence in cephalometric landmark detection-is AI ready to take over?

Objectives: To compare the precision of two cephalometric landmark identification methods, namely a computer-assisted human examination software and an artificial intelligence program, based on South African data.

Methods: This retrospective quantitative cross-sectional analytical study utilized a data set consisting of 409 cephalograms obtained from a South African population. 19 landmarks were identified in each of the 409 cephalograms by the primary researcher using the two programs [(409 cephalograms x 19 landmarks) x 2 methods = 15,542 landmarks)].

Facial imaging to screen for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A scoping review.

Facial imaging tools have rapidly advanced in recent years and show potential for use in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) screening and diagnosis. This scoping review describes the current state of evidence regarding the use of facial imaging being as a screening tool for FASD at a community level. This review follows the guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews and is registered with the Open Science Framework (osf.

Prevalence and correlates of voluntary medical male circumcision adverse events among adult males in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is a key intervention in HIV/AIDS. Improving VMMC program uptake in Zambia requires careful monitoring of adverse events (AE) to inform program quality and safety. We investigate the prevalence of VMMC AE and their associated factors among adult males in Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.

An IoT-Based Fog Computing Model.

The internet of things (IoT) and cloud computing are two technologies which have recently changed both the academia and industry and impacted our daily lives in different ways. However, despite their impact, both technologies have their shortcomings. Though being cheap and convenient, cloud services consume a huge amount of network bandwidth.

Diagnosis-based cohort augmentation using laboratory results data: The case of chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: In this report, we use data from FDA's Sentinel System to focus on how augmenting a diagnosis-based chronic kidney disease cohort with patients identified through laboratory results impacts cohort characteristics and outcomes.

Methods: We used data from 2 Data Partners. Patients were eligible if they were health plan members on January 1, 2012.

Using a Handheld Device for Patient Data Collection: A Pilot for Medical Countermeasures Surveillance.

Medical countermeasures (MCMs) are medical products used during public health emergencies. This study, conducted within the Mini-Sentinel Initiative, sought to develop the patient identification and matching processes necessary to assess safety outcomes for MCMs. A handheld device was used to collect identifying information (e.

Plasma Fatty Acids in Zambian Adults with HIV/AIDS: Relation to Dietary Intake and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Objective. To determine whether 24 hr dietary recalls (DR) are a good measure of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake when compared to plasma levels, and whether plasma PUFA is associated with markers of HIV/AIDS progression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods.

Does KRAS testing in metastatic colorectal cancer impact overall survival? A comparative effectiveness study in a population-based sample.

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are approved for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC); KRAS mutation testing is recommended prior to treatment. We conducted a non-inferiority analysis to examine whether KRAS testing has impacted survival in CRC patients.

Patients And Methods: We included 1186 metastatic CRC cases from seven health plans.

Patient perceptions of surgical informed consent: is repeat back helpful or harmful?

Background: Informed consent (IC)comprehension is suboptimal. Repeat back (RB)-asking the patient to repeat in their own words key elements of the consent-is believed to improve the consent process.

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of RB on patient perceptions of surgical informed consent.

Serum Phosphate Predicts Early Mortality among Underweight Adults Starting ART in Zambia: A Novel Context for Refeeding Syndrome?

Background. Low body mass index (BMI) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is associated with early mortality, but the etiology is not well understood. We hypothesized that low pretreatment serum phosphate, a critical cellular metabolism intermediate primarily stored in skeletal muscle, may predict mortality within the first 12 weeks of ART.

Cardiometabolic risk factors among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Background: HIV and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) may increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We assessed the early effects of cART on CVD risk markers in a population with presumed low CVD risk.

Methods: Adult patients (n=118) in Lusaka, Zambia were recruited at the time of initiation of cART for HIV/AIDS.

Self-reported dietary intake and appetite predict early treatment outcome among low-BMI adults initiating HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: Low BMI is a major risk factor for early mortality among HIV-infected persons starting antiretrovial therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa and the common patient belief that antiretroviral medications produce distressing levels of hunger is a barrier to treatment adherence. We assessed relationships between appetite, dietary intake and treatment outcome 12 weeks after ART initiation among HIV-infected adults with advanced malnutrition and immunosuppression.

Design: A prospective, observational cohort study.

Nutrition and inflammation serum biomarkers are associated with 12-week mortality among malnourished adults initiating antiretroviral therapy in Zambia.

Background: A low body mass index (BMI) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is a strong predictor of mortality among HIV-infected adults in resource-constrained settings. The relationship between nutrition and inflammation-related serum biomarkers and early treatment outcomes (e.g.

Enhancement of surgical informed consent by addition of repeat back: a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: In this randomized, controlled, unblinded trial, we sought to test Repeat Back's (RB) effect on comprehension following informed consent discussions.

Summary Background Data: RB has been suggested as a method to improve patient comprehension when obtaining informed consent. In this technique, patients are asked to recount what they have been told in the informed consent discussion.

Early immunologic response and subsequent survival among malnourished adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Urban Zambia.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between early CD4(+) lymphocyte recovery on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and subsequent survival among low body mass index (BMI) HIV-1-infected adults.

Design: Retrospective analysis of a large programmatic cohort in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: We evaluated ART-treated adults enrolled in care for more than 6 months.

Predictors of comprehension during surgical informed consent.

Background: Patient comprehension during surgical informed consent remains problematic. Using data from our randomized trial of methods to improve informed consent comprehension, we performed an additional analysis to define independent factors associated with improved patient understanding.

Study Design: Patients scheduled for 1 of 4 elective operations (total hip arthroplasty [n = 137], carotid endarterectomy [n = 178], laparoscopic cholecystectomy [n = 179], or radical prostatectomy [n = 81]) at 7 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers were enrolled.

Serum phosphate predicts early mortality in adults starting antiretroviral therapy in Lusaka, Zambia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in sub-Saharan Africa have high rates of mortality in the initial weeks of treatment. We assessed the association of serum phosphate with early mortality among HIV-infected adults with severe malnutrition and/or advanced immunosuppression.

Methodology/principal Findings: An observational cohort of 142 HIV-infected adults initiating ART in Lusaka, Zambia with body mass index (BMI) <16 kg/m(2) or CD4(+) lymphocyte count <50 cells/microL, or both, was followed prospectively during the first 12 weeks of ART.

Fasting Triglyceride Concentrations are Associated with Early Mortality Following Antiretroviral Therapy in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, 8 to 71% of patients initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) die within the first year of treatment. Apart from baseline CD4 count, viral load, hemoglobin, BMI and stage of the disease, there may be other variables that contribute to AIDS-related mortality. We investigated the potential role of nutrition, lipids and insulin resistance-related phenotypes in predicting early mortality.

Association between weight gain and clinical outcomes among malnourished adults initiating antiretroviral therapy in Lusaka, Zambia.

Objective: To describe the association between 6-month weight gain on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and subsequent clinical outcomes.

Design: A retrospective analysis of a large programmatic cohort in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: Using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models, we examined the association between 6-month weight gain and the risk of subsequent death and clinical treatment failure.

Developing national treatment policy for falciparum malaria in Africa: Malawi experience.

The emergence and spread across sub-Saharan Africa of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to the inexpensive antimalarials chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has worsened the health and hampered the socio-economic development of affected countries, a situation that calls for urgent review of malaria treatment policies in these countries. The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative promotes strong partnerships for implementing effective malaria control measures. The development of clear policies to guide such implementation at country level offers a way of assessing the achievement of set milestones in this collaborative venture.

Acute hypophosphataemia and hypokalaemia in a patient starting antiretroviral therapy in Zambia-a new context for refeeding syndrome?

High mortality rates have been reported in the first 90 days of antiretroviral therapy in Zambia and other low-income countries. We report a case of acute hypophosphataemia and hypokalaemia in the first week of antiretroviral therapy in a patient with extreme AIDS wasting. Given its occurrence in an extremely wasted patient, it may be physiologically similar to refeeding syndrome but other causes could be relevant as well.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in Central Africans.

Objective: To document the clinical and haematological features of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in Central Africans.

Design: Prospective descriptive analysis.

Setting: Tertiary referral teaching hospitals.

Perceptions about the acceptability of assessments of HIV medication adherence in Lilongwe, Malawi and Chennai, India.

Little research exists on acceptability issues related to assessments of adherence to ART in resource-poor settings. To help prepare for two large-scale, multisite ART intervention trials, this qualitative study of individuals in Chennai, India (49 men, 11 women; 33 taking ART, 27 not) and Lilongwe, Malawi (5 men, 5 women, all taking ART) examined potential limitations of different types of adherence assessments: an adherence questionnaire, a pill diary, a pillbox, an electronic pill cap, and a medication punch card. Many participants reported that the various assessments would be acceptable.