Efficient diagnosis of diabetes mellitus using an improved ensemble method.

Diabetes is a growing health concern in developing countries, causing considerable mortality rates. While machine learning (ML) approaches have been widely used to improve early detection and treatment, several studies have shown low classification accuracies due to overfitting, underfitting, and data noise. This research employs parallel and sequential ensemble ML approaches paired with feature selection techniques to boost classification accuracy.

Influences of age and sex on the diagnostic accuracy of human epididymis secretory protein 4 for malignant pleural effusion.

Previous studies have suggested that the presence of human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) in pleural fluid can be used to diagnose malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with moderate accuracy. However, the factors that affect the diagnostic accuracy of HE4 remain unknown. This study aimed to examine how age and sex influence the diagnostic accuracy of HE4.

Poor fixation stability does not account for motion perception deficits in amblyopia.

People with amblyopia show deficits in global motion perception, especially at slow speeds. These observers are also known to have unstable fixation when viewing stationary fixation targets, relative to healthy controls. It is possible that poor fixation stability during motion viewing interferes with the fidelity of the input to motion-sensitive neurons in visual cortex.

CHD6 has poly(ADP-ribose)- and DNA-binding domains and regulates PARP1/2-trapping inhibitor sensitivity via abasic site repair.

To tolerate oxidative stress, cells enable DNA repair responses often sensitive to poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase 1 and 2 (PARP1/2) inhibition-an intervention effective against cancers lacking BRCA1/2. Here, we demonstrate that mutating the CHD6 chromatin remodeler sensitizes cells to PARP1/2 inhibitors in a manner distinct from BRCA1, and that CHD6 recruitment to DNA damage requires cooperation between PAR- and DNA-binding domains essential for nucleosome sliding activity. CHD6 displays direct PAR-binding, interacts with PARP-1 and other PAR-associated proteins, and combined DNA- and PAR-binding loss eliminates CHD6 relocalization to DNA damage.

Effect of rapid and slow intravenous injection of sodium penicillin on arterial blood pressure in isoflurane-anesthetized horses during surgery.

Objective: To determine the effects of rapid (1 minute) and slow (10 minutes) intravenous (IV) injection of sodium penicillin on arterial blood pressure in anesthetized horses.

Study Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Animals: A group of 29 client-owned horses of various breeds, 1-20 years old, with body masses of 360-710 kg.

Clinically Meaningful Upstaging and Upgrading in Favorable Intermediate-Risk Radical Prostatectomy Patients.

Introduction: In NCCN favorable intermediate-risk (FIR) prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP), we tested the effect of upstaging and upgrading on cancer-specific mortality (CSM).

Methods: Within the SEER database (2010-2021), upstaging (≥pT3a or pN1) and upgrading (ISUP ≥3) rates in FIR RP patients were tabulated. Kaplan-Meier (KM) plots and multivariable Cox-regression models (CRMs) were fitted.

Genome-wide association study on chronic postsurgical pain in the UK Biobank.

Background: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) persists beyond the expected healing period after surgery, imposing a substantial burden on overall patient well-being. Unfortunately, CPSP often remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. To better understand the mechanism of CPSP development, we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with CPSP.

Continuous serratus anterior block for sternotomy analgesia after cardiac surgery: a single-centre feasibility study.

Background: Moderate-to-severe pain is common after cardiac surgery, peaking during the first and second postoperative days. Several nerve blocks for sternotomy have been described; however, the optimal location for continuous catheters has not been established. This study assessed the feasibility of a larger trial evaluating the efficacy of serratus anterior plane (SAP) catheter analgesia for sternotomy pain.

Exploratory study of patients' and carers' preferences for postdischarge surgical wound monitoring using survey and interviews.

Objectives: To explore patients' and carers' preferences for postdischarge surgical wound monitoring.

Design: Explanatory mixed methods study with an online survey followed by online interviews.

Setting: The online survey was distributed via the Cardiothoracic Interdisciplinary Research Network and cardiac surgery patient and public involvement groups in London and Leicester, UK.

Adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment in high compared to low TB burden countries: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis with a qualitative meta-synthesis of themes.

Introduction: Non-adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment poses a significant challenge to effective TB management globally and is a major contributor to the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB. Although adherence to TB treatment has been widely studied, a comprehensive evaluation of the comparative levels of adherence in high- versus low-TB burden settings remains lacking. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the levels of adherence to TB treatment in high-TB burden countries compared to low-burden countries.

Characterizing tumor-infiltrating group 1 innate lymphoid cells in PyMT breast tumors.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and continues to have a significant impact in cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Investigating the complex roles of infiltrating immune subsets within the tumor microenvironment (TME) will enable a better understanding of disease progression and reveal novel therapeutic strategies for patients with breast cancer. The mammary-specific expression of polyomavirus middle T oncoprotein (MMTV-PyMT) was first established in 1992 by William Muller and is the most commonly used genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) for breast cancer research.

Imaging Approach to Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but important clinical problem that presents a sometimes challenging diagnostic dilemma. The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension relies on a combination of clinical testing and radiologic imaging, with chest computed tomography (CT) often serving as the primary imaging modality for comprehensive evaluation of the chest. Chest CT can be used to evaluate for causes of pulmonary hypertension including chronic lung disease, pulmonary artery obstruction, and congenital heart disease.

Spatiotemporal metabolic mapping of ex-situ preserved hearts subjected to dialysis by integration of bio-SPME sampling with non-targeted metabolipidomic profiling.

Background: Normothermic ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) has emerged as a valid modality for advanced cardiac allograft preservation and conditioning prior to transplantation though myocardial function declines gradually during ESHP thus limiting its potential for expanding the donor pool. Recently, the utilization of dialysis has been shown to preserve myocardial and coronary vasomotor function. Herein, we sought to determine the changes in myocardial metabolism that could support this improvement.

Topographic corneal changes in children with moderate to severe blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose To determine the corneal topographic characteristics of children with blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC), a chronic inflammatory ocular surface disease involving the lid margin, conjunctiva, and cornea. Methods The corneal topography of 21 children diagnosed with BKC between March 2008 and June 2019 at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. Pachymetry and asymmetry indices were also analyzed.

Differences in Postoperative Disposition by Kidney Disease Severity: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: People with advanced kidney disease undergo more non-cardiac operations compared to the general population, with a higher risk of perioperative cardiac events and death. However, little is known about the associations between severity of preoperative kidney dysfunction with postoperative length of hospitalization and discharge disposition; these were the focus of this study.

Study Design: Population-based retrospective cohort.

Eccentric Reaming is Superior to Augmented Components in B2 Glenoids: a Biomechanical study.

Introduction: Primary glenohumeral arthritis is typically associated with glenoid retroversion and posterior bone loss. Glenoid component fixation remains a weak link in the survivorship of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty, particularly in the B2 glenoid. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanical properties of two glenoid preparation techniques in a B2 glenoid bone loss model.

The risk of donor-acquired allergy in solid organ transplant recipients: a systematic review.

Background: Donor acquired allergy (DAA) occurs when donors transfer their allergies to recipients through solid organ transplant (SOT). However, the risk of DAA in recipients of organs from allergic donors has not been systematically characterized.

Objective: We sought to synthesize the available evidence on the risk of DAA in SOT recipients.

Digital Profiling of Immune Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Relation to Anthracycline Benefit.

Assessment of the tumor immune microenvironment can be used as a prognostic tool for improved survival and as a predictive biomarker for treatment benefit, particularly from immune modulating treatments including cytotoxic chemotherapy. Using Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP), we studied the tumor immune microenvironment of 522 breast cancer cases by quantifying 35 immune biomarkers on tissue microarrays from the MA.5 phase III clinical trial.

P3 site-directed mutagenesis: An efficient method based on primer pairs with 3'-overhangs.

Site-directed mutagenesis is a fundamental tool indispensable for protein and plasmid engineering. An important technological question is how to achieve the efficiency at the ideal level of 100%. Based on complementary primer pairs, the QuickChange method has been widely used, but it requires significant improvements due to its low efficiency and frequent unwanted mutations.

Analysis of clinical features and prognosis in cardiac amyloidosis patients from Spanish hospitals (2016-2021).

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a prevalent yet underdiagnosed heart condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of amyloid fibres, frequently resulting in heart failure (HF), particularly in older people. Despite advancements in non-invasive diagnostic techniques and treatments, the epidemiology of CA patients remains inadequately understood. This nationwide retrospective observational study sought to comprehensively investigate CA patients' characteristics, mortality, and readmission patterns.

Longitudinal integrated proteomic and metabolomic skin changes in atopic dermatitis patients treated with dupilumab.

Background: Inhibition of IL-4/IL-13 driven inflammation by dupilumab has shown significant clinical benefits in treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: To assess longitudinal protein and metabolite composition in AD skin during dupilumab treatment.

Methods: Skin tape strip (STS) were collected from lesional/non-lesional skin of 20 AD patients during 16-week dupilumab treatment and from 20 healthy volunteers (HV) followed for 16-weeks.

Clinical Utility of Systolic Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Atrial Fibrillation: Role of Prospective ECG-Triggered Cardiac CT.

Background: The assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and quantification of LV ejection fraction (EF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be difficult. We previously demonstrated that LV volume changes over the 100 ms of systole (LVEF) can be used as a measure of LV systolic function.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the applicability of LVEF in AF patients.

Racial and ethnic enrollment disparities in clinical trials leading to FDA approvals for gynecologic malignancies.

Background: Black women and other minorities have higher age adjusted incidence risk for cervical and endometrial cancer than White women. However, the extent of racial and ethnic disparities in clinical trial enrollment among studies performed mainly in North America and Europe for gynecologic malignancy is unknown.

Objective: This study analyzed enrollment rates by race/ethnicity in trials that led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for gynecological cancers from 2010 to 2024.