Category: Nevin Manimala

ANZ J Surg. 2023 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/ans.18324. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis commonly occurs in the liver and lungs with bone metastasis rarely occurring in isolation. Disseminated carcinomatosis of bone marrow (DCBM) is extremely rare in CRC. We conducted a systematic review to provide more information on the diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis of the condition.

METHODS: Studies were identified by performing searches on MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases according to the PRISMA statement standards. We included a single patient whom we treated for metastatic CRC presenting with DCBM in our study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 23.0.

RESULTS: A search through 5502 unique studies yielded 14 studies that were eventually included. There was a total of 17 cases of DCBM in CRC with back pain and constitutional symptoms as the most common presenting complaints. DCBM in CRC was associated with markedly elevated CEA of 275.57 (95% CI 17.13-534.00). There was no predilection for site of primary tumour. Overall median survival was 120 days (95% CI 64.43-175.58). The median survival for patients who received chemotherapy was 240 days (95% CI 71.11-408.89), as compared to 9 days (95% CI 1.80-16.20) for patients who received best supportive treatment.

CONCLUSION: DCBM from CRC is extremely rare. Bone marrow examination remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Colonic stenting or surgical diversion may be more appropriate than primary resection in obstructed CRC in view of the poor prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy shows promise in increasing median survival.

PMID:36772885 | DOI:10.1111/ans.18324

Acta Ophthalmol. 2023 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/aos.15642. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess topographic characteristics of the optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and study the effect of ocular and physiological factors on them in a middle-aged population.

METHODS: A 1552-person randomised sample from Northern Finland population aged 45-49 was examined. Laser scanning tomography and optical coherency tomography were performed to obtain measurements for ONH and RNFL morphology. Measurements of the RNFL included global thickness and the six zones used in automated structure-function analysis (S-F analysis). Influence of central corneal thickness (CCT), refractive correction, intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber angle, gender, blood pressure, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) on tomographic data was analysed.

RESULTS: The optic disc area had a strong correlation with all other parameters of ONH morphology (R = 0.261 to 0.706) as did spherical equivalent (R = -0.280 to 0.280). The correlations between ONH and RNFL measurements were weaker (R = 0.057 to 0.180). Gender, CCT, anterior chamber angle, blood pressure, height and BMI had statistically significant, yet feeble, correlations with a number of ONH parameters.

CONCLUSION: Other than spherical equivalent, the studied anatomical and physiological attributes had little predictive value on the ONH morphology. The optic disc area itself had a significant effect on other measurements of ONH tomography and should be taken into consideration when the thresholds for normal ONH morphology are calculated.

PMID:36772874 | DOI:10.1111/aos.15642

J Med Virol. 2023 Feb 11. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28575. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease, is emerging as a potential sexually transmitted infection/disease, with underlying transmission mechanisms still unclear. We devised a risk-structured, compartmental model, incorporating sexual behavior dynamics. We compared different strategies targeting the high-risk population: a scenario of control policies geared towards the use of condoms and/or sexual abstinence (robust control strategy) with risk compensation behavior change, and a scenario of control strategies with behavior change in response to the doubling rate (adaptive control strategy). Monkeypox’s basic reproduction number is 1.464, 0.0066, and 1.461 in the high-risk, low-risk, and total populations, respectively, with the high-risk group being the major driver of monkeypox spread. Policies imposing condom use or sexual abstinence need to achieve a 35% minimum compliance rate to stop further transmission, while a combination of both can curb the spread with 10% compliance to abstinence and 25% to condom use. With risk compensation, the only option is to impose sexual abstinence by at least 35%. Adaptive control is more effective than robust control where the daily sexual contact number is reduced proportionally and remains constant thereafter, shortening the time to epidemic peak, lowering its size, facilitating disease attenuation, and playing a key role in controlling the current outbreak. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36772860 | DOI:10.1002/jmv.28575

Drug Test Anal. 2023 Feb 11. doi: 10.1002/dta.3456. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The ratio of Testosterone (T) to Epitestosterone (E) determined in urine samples is the main biomarker used to prove T and precursors abused by athletes. Analytically, the correction of the ratio is required by the World Anti-doping Agency. This work describes a series of experiments aimed to study when it is appropriate to correct the T/E ratio value, using different mass spectrometric techniques since only reports on GC-MS exist. Analyses using external calibrators, controls, and routine samples were performed by three different techniques GC-MS, GC-MSⁿ , and LC-MSⁿ . A statistical comparison of the T/E was performed after the application of two corrections previously published: Isotopic contribution peak area correction (corr_1) and use of a verified internal deuterated internal standard (TD3/ED3) correction (corr_2) and the ratio based on T and E concentrations. The use of external calibration samples introduces biases that influenced not only the T and E concentrations but also the T/E ratio, even when both methods of correction are applied. The correction after applying corr_1 method barely contributed to the accuracy of the T/E calculation. Nevertheless, the application of the corr_2 method, increased the accuracy between 5-6% when comparing theoretical and experimental T/E values. Finally, the best results were obtained by the ratio calculated directly from the estimated concentrations of T and E. Attention must be paid when the T/E is measured by LC-MSⁿ since different acquisition modes produced significantly different results, even in MS/MS when the same transition is used for T and E.

PMID:36772848 | DOI:10.1002/dta.3456

Clin Neuropsychol. 2023 Feb 11:1-21. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2023.2173304. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This paper reports normative data for different attentional tests obtained from a sample of middle-aged and older native Spanish adults and considering effects of age, educational level and sex. Method: 2,597 cognitively intact participants, aged from 50 to 98 years old, participated voluntarily in the SCAND consortium studies. The statistical procedure included conversion of percentile ranges into scaled scores. The effects of age, education and sex were taken into account. Linear regressions were used to calculate adjusted scaled scores. Results: Scaled scores and percentiles corresponding to the TMT, Digit Symbol and Letter Cancellation Task are shown. Additional tables show the values to be added to or subtracted from the scaled scores, for age and education in the case of the TMT and Letter Cancellation Task measures, and for education in the case of the Digit Symbol subtest. Conclusions: The current norms provide clinically useful data for evaluating Spanish people aged 50 to 98 years old and contribute to improving detection of initial symptoms of cognitive impairment.

PMID:36772821 | DOI:10.1080/13854046.2023.2173304

Clin Neuropsychol. 2023 Feb 11:1-17. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2023.2176364. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Returning Veterans often have conditions (e.g. posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, and history of traumatic brain injury [TBI]) associated with cognitive dysfunction and problems with work, school, housing, and relationships. Rehabilitative efforts in Veterans aim to promote community reintegration, or successful adjustment in one’s home, community, and desired social roles. We examined associations between neuropsychological performance, neurobehavioral symptoms, and community reintegration in Veterans. Method: 89 Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans at risk for homelessness and receiving residential mental healthcare completed a neuropsychological assessment and the Community Reintegration for Service Members-Computer Adaptive Test (CRIS-CAT). Neuropsychological components were derived using Principal Component Analysis. Bivariate Pearson correlations between neuropsychological variables, neurobehavioral symptoms, and CRIS-CAT scales (Extent of Participation, Perceived Limitations, and Satisfaction) were used to determine significant correlates of community reintegration. Regression models were used to examine associations between bivariate-significant neuropsychological components, neurobehavioral symptoms, and CRIS-CAT scales. Results: Bivariate analyses revealed that better community reintegration was associated with better performance in attention/executive functioning and fewer neurobehavioral symptoms. Three regression models examining predictors of variance in Extent of Participation, Perceived Limitations, and Satisfaction in community reintegration were statistically significant overall, with only fewer affective symptoms emerging as significantly and uniquely associated with greater participation and greater satisfaction in community functioning. Conclusions: Veterans with fewer affective symptoms reported greater participation and satisfaction with community functioning. Future longitudinal research examining associations between neurobehavioral symptoms, cognition, and risk factors of poorer community reintegration in unstably housed Veterans is warranted.

PMID:36772819 | DOI:10.1080/13854046.2023.2176364

Med Sci Monit. 2023 Feb 11;29:e939225. doi: 10.12659/MSM.939225.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of dental implant placement at different bone levels upon the resultant postoperative peri-implant bone loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-two partially edentulous patients seeking implant-supported single-crown restorations were screened followed by segregation into 2 groups (GP), GP E (equicrestal) and GP S (subcrestal) (n=21 each). Sixty endosseous implants (30 each) (Adin Tourage-S, Israel), size 3.5/8 and 4/10 mm for mandibles, were placed using a 2-stage surgical procedure. At 4 to 6 months, straight abutments were attached followed by restoration (Vita Zahnfabrik, Germany). Crestal bone levels (mesial/distal) of implant fixtures were assessed at 5 time intervals (after surgery, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months) using digital radiography. Means and standard deviations were calculated, following which the differences were statistically analyzed using ANOVA at P value of <0.05. RESULTS The mean annual bone loss for GP S (1.96 mm) was higher than GP E (1.10 mm). At all studied time intervals, the bone loss for implants in GP S was higher than in GP E (P<0.05). Between time intervals, lowest bone loss was observed on the distal side in GP E (0.11 mm/6-9 month) and the highest bone loss was observed on the distal side of GP S (0.6 mm/9-12 month). Differences in the means between the 2 groups on mesial and distal sides were statistically significant at all time intervals (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Subcrestal implant placement was associated with more bone loss than when implants are placed at the crestal level.

PMID:36772790 | DOI:10.12659/MSM.939225

Sensors (Basel). 2023 Feb 3;23(3):1737. doi: 10.3390/s23031737.

ABSTRACT

Capacitive touch panels (CTPs) have the merits of being waterproof, antifouling, scratch resistant, and capable of rapid response, making them more popular in various touch electronic products. However, the CTP has a multilayer structure, and the background is a directional texture. The inspection work is more difficult when the defect area is small and occurs in the textured background. This study focused mainly on the automated defect inspection of CTPs with structural texture on the surface, using the spectral attributes of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) with the proposed three-way double-band Gaussian filtering (3W-DBGF) method. With consideration to the bandwidth and angle of the high-energy region combined with the characteristics of band filtering, threshold filtering, and Gaussian distribution filtering, the frequency values with higher energy are removed, and after reversal to the spatial space, the textured background can be weakened and the defects enhanced. Finally, we use simple statistics to set binarization threshold limits that can accurately separate defects from the background. The detection outcomes showed that the flaw detection rate of the DCT-based 3W-DBGF approach was 94.21%, the false-positive rate of the normal area was 1.97%, and the correct classification rate was 98.04%.

PMID:36772777 | DOI:10.3390/s23031737

Sensors (Basel). 2023 Feb 3;23(3):1683. doi: 10.3390/s23031683.

ABSTRACT

The secure operation of smart grids is closely linked to state estimates that accurately reflect the physical characteristics of the grid. However, well-designed false data injection attacks (FDIAs) can manipulate the process of state estimation by injecting malicious data into the measurement data while bypassing the detection of the security system, ultimately causing the results of state estimation to deviate from secure values. Since FDIAs tampering with the measurement data of some buses will lead to error offset, this paper proposes an attack-detection algorithm based on statistical learning according to the different characteristic parameters of measurement error before and after tampering. In order to detect and classify false data from the measurement data, in this paper, we report the model establishment and estimation of error parameters for the tampered measurement data by combining the the k-means++ algorithm with the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. At the same time, we located and recorded the bus that the attacker attempted to tamper with. In order to verify the feasibility of the algorithm proposed in this paper, the IEEE 5-bus standard test system and the IEEE 14-bus standard test system were used for simulation analysis. Numerical examples demonstrate that the combined use of the two algorithms can decrease the detection time to less than 0.011883 s and correctly locate the false data with a probability of more than 95%.

PMID:36772723 | DOI:10.3390/s23031683

Sensors (Basel). 2023 Feb 2;23(3):1659. doi: 10.3390/s23031659.

ABSTRACT

Game playing is an accessible leisure activity. Recently, the World Health Organization officially included gaming disorder in the ICD-11, and studies using several bio-signals were conducted to quantitatively determine this. However, most EEG studies regarding internet gaming disorder (IGD) were conducted in the resting state, and the outcomes appeared to be too inconsistent to identify a general trend. Therefore, this study aimed to use a series of statistical processes with all the existing EEG parameters until the most effective ones to identify the difference between IGD subjects IGD and healthy subjects was determined. Thirty subjects were grouped into IGD (n = 15) and healthy (n = 15) subjects by using the Young’s internet addition test (IAT) and the compulsive internet use scale (CIUS). EEG data for 16 channels were collected while the subjects played League of Legends. For the exhaustive search of parameters, 240 parameters were tested in terms of t-test, factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and finally logistic regression analysis. After a series of statistical processes, the parameters from Alpha, sensory motor rhythm (SMR), and MidBeta ranging from the Fp1, C3, C4, and O1 channels were found to be best indicators of IGD symptoms. The accuracy of diagnosis was computed as 63.5-73.1% before cross-validation. The most interesting finding of the study was the dynamics of EEG relative power in the 10-20 Hz band. This EEG crossing phenomenon between IGD and healthy subjects may explain why previous research showed inconsistent outcomes. The outcome of this study could be the referential guide for further investigation to quantitatively assess IGD symptoms.

PMID:36772696 | DOI:10.3390/s23031659