Optimal nitrite degradation by isolated Bacillus subtilis sp. N4 and applied for intensive aquaculture water quality management with immobilized strains.

The toxicity of nitrite is an issue that cannot be overlooked in nitrogen pollution within aquaculture. A highly efficient bacterium capable of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was screened from natto, and its 16S rRNA gene sequence was compared to existing records, confirming its identification as Bacillus subtilis sp. N4.

Effect of induced extrinsic and intrinsic hand and forearm muscular fatigue on the control of finger force during piano playing.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hand muscle fatigue on finger control and force efficiency during piano performance, which is crucial for skilled piano playing among professional pianists engaged in prolonged periods of high-intensity practice or concert preparation. Thirty-one professional pianists were recruited as participants. This study was divided into three sequential experimental parts: pre-fatigue test, fatigue protocol, and post-fatigue test.

Association between underlying health conditions and long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized individuals as modified by health literacy: A multi-center study.

Objectives: We investigated the effect modification of health literacy (HL) in ameliorating the negative impact of underlying health conditions (UHC) on long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized survivors.

Study Design: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022.

Methods: A sample of 4507 participants recruited from 18 hospitals and health centers were those aged 18 or older, had contracted COVID-19 for at least 28 days, and were not in the acute phase of reinfection.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes among vaccinated patients with tuberculosis.

Objectives: Limited data are available to assess breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, medical utilization, and mortality in patients with tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to examine the risk of COVID-19 and severe outcomes in patients with TB between January 2020 and March 2022.

Study Design: US electronic medical records were used to identify TB and non-TB patients who completed the primary series of vaccination and had no prior COVID-19.

Excessive Initial Renal Function Decline Following Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Treatment Predicts Major Adverse Cardiorenal Outcomes.

Objective: To investigate how estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline following sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) initiation predicts long-term cardiorenal outcomes.

Methods: From 2016 to 2020, a longitudinal cohort of 4942 diabetic patients treated with SGLT2i were enrolled and followed until December 2021. Patients were categorized into mild (≤30%), moderate (>30%∼≤40%) and severe (>40%) decline groups by the maximal eGFR change between 2 to 12 weeks after SGLT2i treatment.

Effects of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy and real-time fluorescent imaging on deep sternal wound infection: a retrospective study.

Objective: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but devastating complication that is estimated to occur in 1-2% of patients after median sternotomy. Current standard of care (SoC) comprises antibiotics, debridement and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) appears to be an effective adjuvant therapy for osteomyelitis.

Unlocking Vision Care Accessibility: Evaluating Caregivers' Willingness to Pay in Specialised Eye Clinics for Family Members With Intellectual Disabilities.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) require more vision care but encounter considerable challenges during eye examinations. Specialised clinics established specifically for people with IDs are generally limited. This study aims to evaluate primary family caregivers' willingness to pay (WTP) for specialised ophthalmology services designed for people with IDs.

Identifying Distinct Developmental Patterns of Brain Complexity in Autism: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Analysis Using the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange.

Aim: Autistic traits exhibit neurodiversity with varying behaviors across developmental stages. Brain complexity theory, illustrating the dynamics of neural activity, may elucidate the evolution of autistic traits over time. Our study explored the patterns of brain complexity in autistic individuals from childhood to adulthood.

Efficiency and Safety of Repeated Vertebroplasty for Adjacent Segment Fractures.

To review the outcomes of patients who underwent repeated vertebroplasty (VP) surgery for adjacent segment fractures (ASF), defined as new osteoporotic vertebral fractures occurring at levels immediately above or below a previously treated vertebra. From 1 January 2018, to 31 December 2020, forty-one patients who developed ASF following initial VP and underwent repeated VP were enrolled in our study. Radiographic measurements included single and two-segment kyphotic angles (SKA and TKA), and anterior and mid-vertebral body height (AVH and MVH).

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Pre-Conceptional Hyperandrogenism: A Multi-Institutional Registry-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are at higher risk for pregnancy complications. The PCOS population is heterogeneous, with different phenotypes linked to varying risks of adverse outcomes. However, literature on pre-conceptional hyperandrogenism is limited and based on small sample sizes.

Nutritional Status, Frailty, Oral Health, and Oral Motor Functions in Long-Term Care Residents with Swallowing Dysfunction.

: Swallowing dysfunction is a prevalent but often overlooked problem in long-term care facilities. This study investigated the relationships between nutritional deficits, frailty, oral health, and swallowing dysfunction. Additionally, we explored the associations between oral muscle weakness, frailty markers, and swallowing dysfunction.

AI-Driven Enhancement of Skin Cancer Diagnosis: A Two-Stage Voting Ensemble Approach Using Dermoscopic Data.

Background: Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with melanoma being the deadliest type, though it accounts for less than 5% of cases. Traditional skin cancer detection methods are effective but are often costly and time-consuming. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have improved skin cancer diagnosis by helping dermatologists identify suspicious lesions.

The Role of Fractalkine in Diabetic Retinopathy: Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes, characterized by progressive microvascular dysfunction that can result in vision loss. Chronic hyperglycemia drives oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation, leading to retinal damage and complications such as neovascularization. Current treatments, including anti-VEGF agents, have limitations, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.

Secretome of the Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Influences the Behavior of Neural Stem Cells.

Olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) transplantation demonstrates promising therapeutic results in neurological disorders, such as spinal cord injury. The emerging cell-free secretome therapy compensates for the limitations of cell transplantation, such as low cell survival rates. However, the therapeutic benefits of the human OEC secretome remain unclear.

Recombinant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Enhance Mitochondrial Function and Metabolism in Aging Female Reproductive Cells.

Ovarian aging significantly impacts female fertility, with mitochondrial dysfunction emerging as a key factor. This study investigated the effects of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) on mitochondrial function and metabolism in aging female reproductive cells. Human granulosa cells (HGL5) were treated with FSH/LH or not.

Ultrasound Examination for Cement Extrusion After Uni-Compartmental Knee Replacement.

A 66-year-old woman presented with persistent knee effusion three months after undergoing a cemented medial uni-compartmental knee replacement. She was afebrile and able to walk with a stick. Physical examination revealed moderate effusion.

Comparison Between Topographic-Based and Manifest-Based Astigmatism Corrections in the Second (Visumax 800)-Generation Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Surgery: A Real-World Study.

: To evaluate the effectiveness of astigmatism correction between topographic- and manifest-based methods in individuals who underwent second-generation keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgery. : This study was conducted with participants who underwent second-generation KLEx surgery. After exclusion, there were 46 and 43 participants in the manifest and topographic groups, respectively.

Use of Machine Learning to Predict the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Among Relatively Healthy Adults: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study in Taiwan.

: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, particularly in the Pacific Ocean island nations. Although machine learning (ML) models and data mining approaches have been applied to diabetes research, there was no study utilizing ML models to predict diabetes incidence in Taiwan. We aimed to predict the onset of diabetes in order to raise health awareness, thereby promoting any necessary lifestyle modifications and help mitigate disease burden.

Comparison of Visual and Refractive Outcomes Between Refractive Lens Exchange and Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Surgery in Moderate to High Myopia.

: To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes of keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgery and refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery in moderate to high myopia patients. : A retrospective cohort study was performed, and patients receiving KLEx or RLE surgeries with myopia within -3.00 to -10.

IgG4-Related Lymphadenopathy Mimicking Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastasis of Lung Cancer on F-FDG PET/CT.

We report a case of a 73-year-old man with minimally invasive lung adenocarcinoma, post-resection, evaluated with F-FDG PET/CT for suspected disease progression. Imaging showed increased FDG uptake in the right lower lung mass and systemic lymphadenopathy (mediastinal, supraclavicular, axillary, paraaortic, and iliac regions). The appearance of a stable lymph node and a clinical history of IgG4 lymphadenopathy suggested an inflammatory process, although malignancy in the lung mass and mediastinal nodes could not be excluded.

Predictive Modeling of Long-Term Care Needs in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Using Machine Learning.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) research often focuses on mortality rates or functional recovery, yet the critical need for long-term care among patients dependent on institutional or Respiratory Care Ward (RCW) support remains underexplored. This study aims to address this gap by employing machine learning techniques to develop and validate predictive models that analyze the prognosis of this patient population.

Method: Retrospective data from electronic medical records at Chi Mei Medical Center, encompassing 2020 TBI patients admitted to the ICU between January 2016 and December 2021, were collected.

The Potential for High-Priority Care Based on Pain Through Facial Expression Detection with Patients Experiencing Chest Pain.

Background And Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is defined as a cardiac and vascular disorder that includes coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Having CVD increases the mortality rate. Emotional stress, an indirect indicator associated with CVD, can often manifest through facial expressions.

Biomechanical insights into anterolateral vertebral screw fixation in osteoporotic spines: a comparative study of fixation methods and positions using porcine vertebrae.

Objective: Combining oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) with posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) has been proposed to reduce cage subsidence, especially in osteoporotic spines. Recently, anterolateral screw-rod fixation has gained interest as it allows direct pathology observation and avoids a posterior approach. However, controversies exist between anterolateral screw fixation systems and traditional PPSF due to variations in osteoporotic vertebral mineral density, screw fixation positions, and fixation methods (bicortical vs.

Machine learning identified novel players in lipid metabolism, endosomal trafficking, and iron metabolism of the ALS spinal cord.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Although genes causing familial cases have been identified, those of sporadic ALS, which occupies the majority of patients, are still elusive. In this study, we adopted machine learning to build binary classifiers based on the New York Genome Center (NYGC) ALS Consortium's RNA-seq data of the postmortem spinal cord of ALS and non-neurological disease control.