Ocular biometric parameters in Chinese preschool children and physiological axial length growth prediction using machine learning algorithms: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To examine the ocular biometric parameters and predict the annual growth rate of the physiological axial length (AL) in Chinese preschool children aged 4-6 years old.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 1090 kindergarten students (1090 right eyes) between the ages of 4 and 6 years from Pinggu and Chaoyang District, Beijing. Dioptre values were ascertained following cycloplegic autorefraction.

Mortality and morbidity patterns in Yaoundé, Cameroon: an ICD-11 classification-based analysis.

Background: In Cameroon, like in many other resource-limited countries, data generated by health settings including morbidity and mortality parameters are not always uniform. In the absence of a national guideline necessary for the standardization and harmonization of data, precision of data required for effective decision-making is therefore not guaranteed. The objective of the present study was to assess the reporting style of morbidity and mortality data in healthcare settings.

Refining the Allostatic Self-Efficacy Theory of Fatigue and Depression Using Causal Inference.

Allostatic self-efficacy (ASE) represents a computational theory of fatigue and depression. In brief, it postulates that (i) fatigue is a feeling state triggered by a metacognitive diagnosis of loss of control over bodily states (persistently elevated interoceptive surprise); and that (ii) generalization of low self-efficacy beliefs beyond bodily control induces depression. Here, we converted ASE theory into a structural causal model (SCM).

Automatic Segmentation of Vestibular Schwannoma From MRI Using Two Cascaded Deep Learning Networks.

Objective: Automatic segmentation and detection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in MRI by deep learning is an upcoming topic. However, deep learning faces generalization challenges due to tumor variability even though measurements and segmentation of VS are essential for growth monitoring and treatment planning. Therefore, we introduce a novel model combining two Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models for the detection of VS by deep learning aiming to improve performance of automatic segmentation.

Associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis: A time-stratified case-crossover study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the associations between short-term air pollution exposure and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB).

Methods: AECB data were collected from hospital surveillance systems in Shanghai, China, during 2018-2022. Exposure pollution data were obtained from China high resolution high quality near-surface air pollution datasets and assigned to individuals based on their residential addresses.

Natural antibodies to polysaccharide capsules enable Kupffer cells to capture invading bacteria in the liver sinusoids.

The interception of blood-borne bacteria in the liver defines the outcomes of invasive bacterial infections, but the mechanisms of this antibacterial immunity are not fully understood. This study shows that natural antibodies (nAbs) to capsules enable liver macrophage Kupffer cells (KCs) to rapidly capture and kill blood-borne encapsulated bacteria in mice. Affinity pulldown with serotype-10A capsular polysaccharides (CPS10A) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn10A) led to the identification of CPS10A-binding nAbs in serum.

Plasma Viral Load of 200 Copies/mL is a Suitable Threshold to Define Viral Suppression and HIV Drug Resistance Testing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence From a Facility-Based Study in Cameroon.

Introduction: In low-and-middle-income-countries (LMIC), viral suppression is defined as plasma viral load (PVL) below 1000 copies/mL (low-level viremia [LLV]) and threshold for HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) testing. However, there is evidence that drug resistance mutations (DRMs) may emerge at LLV, thus compromising antiretroviral treatment (ART) response We evaluated sequencing success rates (SSR) at LLV, described HIVDR profiles and adequacy with potential efficacy of tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir (TLD).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals with LLV at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon from January 2020 through August 2021.

Association of dietary inflammatory index and refractive status in American adolescents: NHANES 1999-2008.

Background: Several nutrients have been found to be associated with the prevalence of myopia, and the role of dietary patterns in influencing myopia risk has recently garnered significant attention. We aim to explore the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and refractive status in adolescents.

Methods: Data from 7,331 participants were analyzed from the 2005-2008 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

retinal melanin detection with the calibrated depolarization index in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.

Significance: A data-based calibration method with enhanced depolarization contrast in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was developed and demonstrated effective for detecting melanin content in the eye.

Aim: We aim to mitigate the dependence between the measured depolarization metric and the intensity signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for improved visualization of depolarizing tissues, especially in low SNR regions, and to demonstrate the enhanced depolarization contrast to evaluate melanin presence.

Approach: A function for calibrating the depolarization metric was experimentally derived from the young albino guinea pig, assuming depolarization free in the retina.

A spheroid whole mount drug testing pipeline with machine-learning based image analysis identifies cell-type specific differences in drug efficacy on a single-cell level.

Background: The growth and drug response of tumors are influenced by their stromal composition, both in vivo and 3D-cell culture models. Cell-type inherent features as well as mutual relationships between the different cell types in a tumor might affect drug susceptibility of the tumor as a whole and/or of its cell populations. However, a lack of single-cell procedures with sufficient detail has hampered the automated observation of cell-type-specific effects in three-dimensional stroma-tumor cell co-cultures.

Engineering Mild-Photothermal Responsive and NO Donor Prussian Blue Nanozymes Using Mild Synthesis for Inflammation Regulation and Bacterial Eradication in Periodontal Disease.

Periodontitis, an infectious disease of periodontal tissues caused by oral bacterial biofilms, is characterized by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and immune microenvironment imbalance. Multifunctional nanozymes, leveraging their physiochemical properties and enzymatic activities, offer promising antibacterial and anti-inflammatory strategies for managing periodontitis. In particular, Prussian blue nanozymes (PBzymes) exhibit exceptional ROS control due to their robust catalytic activity, diverse antioxidant functions, and high biocompatibility.

Outcomes of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy for at least 10 years at the Essos Hospital Centre, Cameroon: contributing to the elimination of paediatric AIDS in tropical settings.

Evidence on long-term outcomes of children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is of utmost importance to optimize current and future therapeutic strategies for HIV. We sought to ascertain the long-term responses among ART-experienced children and their potential implications. A retrospective, observational, facility-based cohort study was conducted among 136 ART-experienced children monitored for 10 years (2007-2017) at the Essos Hospital Centre in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Extreme temperature events, "Life's Essential 8", and prevalence of chronic kidney disease: A nationally representative surveillance in China.

The population disease burden caused by extreme temperature events has been increasing. However, research on the long-term effects of extreme temperature events on chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as the combined effects with individual behaviors and metabolic factors is still lacking. Based on 176,874 participants from the most recent nationally representative surveillance on CKD and validated high spatial resolution (0.

A novel comprehensive metric balancing imaging dose and setup accuracy in image-guided radiotherapy: concept proposal and clinical validation.

Purpose: To propose and validate a comprehensive novel metric balancing the registration accuracy and imaging dose for image-guided-radiotherapy based on real patient data.

Materials And Methods: With written informed consent and ethical approval, 56 patients were scanned using 6MV CBCT, 140 kV CBCT, and 100 kV CBCT on Halcyon system for three consecutive treatment fractions. Online registration was performed by various on-duty therapists under routine clinical pressure and time limitation.

Preclinical Evaluation of an AlF-Radiolabeled Bicyclic Peptide Targeting Nectin-4.

Precisely assessing nectin-4 expression in tumors is important in identifying patients who may benefit from nectin-4-targeted therapies. In our previous work, we developed a bicyclic peptide-based nectin-4-targeting radiotracer Ga-N188 and validated its nectin-4 detection efficacy. However, the relatively short half-life and low positron emission rate of Ga limit its further application.

Moving Beyond Medical Statistics: A Systematic Review on Missing Data Handling in Electronic Health Records.

Missing data in electronic health records (EHRs) presents significant challenges in medical studies. Many methods have been proposed, but uncertainty exists regarding the current state of missing data addressing methods applied for EHR and which strategy performs better within specific contexts. All studies referencing EHR and missing data methods published from their inception until 2024 March 30 were searched via the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Digital Bibliography and Library Project databases.

[Preliminary application study of digital technology for constructing three-dimensional facial symmetry reference planes in anterior dental esthetic restoration].

To explore the impact of digital technology in constructing a three-dimensional (3D) symmetry reference plane (SRP) for esthetic restoration of anterior teeth and to evaluate its clinical applicability. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2024, involving 20 patients [11 males and 9 females, aged (36.8±11.

[A preliminary investigation of the key parameters of average value articulator based on mandibular movement trajectories in 100 adults with individual normal occlusion].

To explore the method of obtaining the key parameters of the average value articulator in healthy people based on mandibular movement trajectory data, with a view to providing a reference for the clinical application of the average value articulator. One hundred healthy volunteers (42 males and 58 females) with individual normal occlusion, aged 18-55 years old, who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from Beijing, and their mandibular movement trajectory data were collected. The left and right sagittal condylar inclination(SCI) and transversal condylar inclination(TCI) were obtained from the values of the articulator parameters which were generated in the mandibular movement analysis system.

BaTiO Doping Enhances Ultrasound-Driven Piezoelectric Bactericidal Effects of Fibrous Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Dressings to Accelerate Septic Wound Healing.

Bacterial invasion in infected skin wounds triggers inflammation and impedes healing. Current therapeutic strategies incorporating drug interventions within wound dressings often result in drug resistance and delayed healing. Here, we developed a comprehensive therapeutic modality integrating piezoelectric fibrous dressing with controlled ultrasound stimulation for efficient healing in an infected wound model.

TSdetector: Temporal-Spatial self-correction collaborative learning for colonoscopy video detection.

CNN-based object detection models that strike a balance between performance and speed have been gradually used in polyp detection tasks. Nevertheless, accurately locating polyps within complex colonoscopy video scenes remains challenging since existing methods ignore two key issues: intra-sequence distribution heterogeneity and precision-confidence discrepancy. To address these challenges, we propose a novel Temporal-Spatial self-correction detector (TSdetector), which first integrates temporal-level consistency learning and spatial-level reliability learning to detect objects continuously.

Screening for severe coronary stenosis in patients with apparently normal electrocardiograms based on deep learning.

Background: Patients with severe coronary arterystenosis may present with apparently normal electrocardiograms (ECGs), making it difficult to detect adverse health conditions during routine screenings or physical examinations. Consequently, these patients might miss the optimal window for treatment.

Methods: We aimed to develop an effective model to distinguish severe coronary stenosis from no or mild coronary stenosis in patients with apparently normal ECGs.