Synthetic Data Generation via Generative Adversarial Networks in Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Image- and Signal-Based Studies.

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have emerged as a powerful tool in artificial intelligence, particularly for unsupervised learning. This systematic review analyzes GAN applications in healthcare, focusing on image and signal-based studies across various clinical domains. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we reviewed 72 relevant journal articles.

The status and future of essential geodiversity variables.

Rapid environmental change, natural resource overconsumption and increasing concerns about ecological sustainability have led to the development of 'Essential Variables' (EVs). EVs are harmonized data products to inform policy and to enable effective management of natural resources by monitoring global changes. Recent years have seen the instigation of new EVs beyond those established for climate, oceans and biodiversity (ECVs, EOVs and EBVs), including Essential Geodiversity Variables (EGVs).

Deep learning techniques in PET/CT imaging: A comprehensive review from sinogram to image space.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasingly used in oncology, neurology, cardiology, and emerging medical fields. The success stems from the cohesive information that hybrid PET/CT imaging offers, surpassing the capabilities of individual modalities when used in isolation for different malignancies. However, manual image interpretation requires extensive disease-specific knowledge, and it is a time-consuming aspect of physicians' daily routines.

Automated detection of airflow obstructive diseases: A systematic review of the last decade (2013-2022).

Background And Objective: Obstructive airway diseases, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are two of the most common chronic respiratory health problems. Both of these conditions require health professional expertise in making a diagnosis. Hence, this process is time intensive for healthcare providers and the diagnostic quality is subject to intra- and inter- operator variability.

L-Tetrolet Pattern-Based Sleep Stage Classification Model Using Balanced EEG Datasets.

Background: Sleep stage classification is a crucial process for the diagnosis of sleep or sleep-related diseases. Currently, this process is based on manual electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis, which is resource-intensive and error-prone. Various machine learning models have been recommended to standardize and automate the analysis process to address these problems.

Process evaluation of the New Interventions for independence in Dementia Study (NIDUS) Family stream randomised controlled trial: protocol.

Introduction: New Interventions for independence in Dementia Study (NIDUS)-Family is an Alzheimer's Society funded new manualised, multimodal psychosocial intervention to support people living with dementia (PLWD) to achieve goals that they and their family carers set, towards living as independently and as well as possible at home for longer. This process evaluation will be embedded within the NIDUS-Family Randomised Controlled Trial intervention-arm (n=199), testing how the intervention influences change, as measured by goal attainment. The evaluation will test, refine and develop the NIDUS-Family theoretical model, associated causal assumptions and logic model to identify key mechanisms of impact, implementation and contextual factors influencing the intervention's effectiveness.

Association between diabetes and edentulism and their joint effects on health status in 40 low and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Previous studies on the diabetes-edentulism relationship have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate the association between diabetes and edentulism, and their joint effects on health status in adults from 40 low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Research Design And Methods: Data from the World Health Survey were used for this cross-sectional study (2002-2004).

Life under COVID-19 for LGBT+ people in the UK: systematic review of UK research on the impact of COVID-19 on sexual and gender minority populations.

Objective: To systematically review all published and unpublished evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of UK sexual and gender minority (LGBT+; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer) people.

Methods: Any relevant studies with or without comparator were included, with outcomes of: COVID-19 incidence, hospitalisation rates, illness severity, death rates, other health and well-being. Six databases (platforms) were searched-CINAHL Plus (Ovid), Cochrane Central (Cochrane Library), Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Science Citation Index (Web of Science) and Scopus between 2019 and 2020 in December 2020, using synonyms for sexual and gender minorities and COVID-19 search terms.

Sarcopenia and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults from Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Background: Little is known about the relationship between sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate this association among community-dwelling adults aged≥65 years from six LMICs.

Methods: Cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) were analyzed.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review.

Objective: In March 2020, several countries banned unnecessary outdoor activities during COVID-19, commonly called 'lockdowns. These lockdowns have the potential to impact associated levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Given the numerous health outcomes associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour, the aim of this review was to summarise literature that investigated differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour before vs during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Association of objective and subjective far vision impairment with perceived stress among older adults in six low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To assess the association between far vision impairment (objective and subjective) and perceived stress among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs, i.e., China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa).

Association Between Problem Gambling and Functional Disability: A Nationally Representative Study Conducted in the United Kingdom.

Objectives: Problem gambling is associated with multiple detrimental health outcomes. However, to date, no study has investigated the association between problem gambling and functional disability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between problem gambling and functional disability in a UK nationally representative sample.

Anxiety symptoms and mild cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults from low- and middle-income countries.

Aim: Anxiety may be a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but there is a scarcity of data on this association especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, we investigated the association between anxiety and MCI among older adults residing in six LMICs (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa), and the mediational effect of sleep problems in this association.

Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed.

Sexual Orientation and Functional Limitations: Cross-sectional Analyses From the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.

Objective: To assess the association between sexual orientation and functional limitations in a large representative sample of the English population.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Data were from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.

International clinical practice guidelines for gender minority/trans people: systematic review and quality assessment.

Objectives: To identify and critically appraise published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding healthcare of gender minority/trans people.

Design: Systematic review and quality appraisal using AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool), including stakeholder domain prioritisation.

Setting: Six databases and six CPG websites were searched, and international key opinion leaders approached.

Relationship between chronic gingivitis and subsequent depression in 13,088 patients followed in general practices.

Goal: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between chronic gingivitis and subsequent depression in patients aged ≥14 years who were followed up in general practices in the UK.

Methods: This study included patients aged ≥14 years who had received an initial diagnosis of chronic gingivitis in one of 256 general practices in the United Kingdom between January 2000 and December 2016 (index date). Patients without chronic gingivitis were matched (1:1) to those with chronic gingivitis by sex, age, index year, treating physician, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Seasonal Changes in 25(OH)D Concentration in Young Soccer Players-Implication for Bone Resorption Markers and Physical Performance.

Searching for potential relations between changes in 25(OH)D concentration and in physical fitness is an interesting scientific topic. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D in young football players in conjunction with indicators determining bone resorption and physical fitness. A total of 35 young soccer players were tested during the autumn competition period.

COVID-19 Confinement and Sexual Activity in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Restrictions of free movement have been proven effective in tackling the spread of COVID-19 disease. However, sensitive populations submitted to longer periods of restrictions may experience detrimental effects in significant areas of their lifestyle, such as sexual activity. This study examines sexual activity during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain.

Objectively measured far vision impairment and sarcopenia among adults aged ≥ 65 years from six low- and middle-income countries.

Background: There are currently no studies on visual impairment and sarcopenia. We investigated the cross-sectional association between objectively measured far vision impairment and sarcopenia in a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 65 years and over from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based data from the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed.