Nevin Manimala

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2023 Aug 21;23(1):190. doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-02013-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Naive Bayes (NB) classifier is a powerful supervised algorithm widely used in Machine Learning (ML). However, its effectiveness relies on a strict assumption of conditional independence, which is often violated in real-world scenarios. To address this limitation, various studies have explored extensions of NB that tackle the issue of non-conditional independence in the data. These approaches can be broadly categorized into two main categories: feature selection and structure expansion. In this particular study, we propose a novel approach to enhancing NB by introducing a latent variable as the parent of the attributes. We define this latent variable using a flexible technique called Bayesian Latent Class Analysis (BLCA). As a result, our final model combines the strengths of NB and BLCA, giving rise to what we refer to as NB-BLCA. By incorporating the latent variable, we aim to capture complex dependencies among the attributes and improve the overall performance of the classifier.

METHODS: Both Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm and the Gibbs sampling approach were offered for parameter learning. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the classification of the model in comparison with the ordinary NB model. In addition, real-world data related to 976 Gastric Cancer (GC) and 1189 Non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) patients was used to show the model’s performance in an actual application. The validity of models was evaluated using the 10-fold cross-validation.

RESULTS: The presented model was superior to ordinary NB in all the simulation scenarios according to higher classification sensitivity and specificity in test data. The NB-BLCA model using Gibbs sampling accuracy was 87.77 (95% CI: 84.87-90.29). This index was estimated at 77.22 (95% CI: 73.64-80.53) and 74.71 (95% CI: 71.02-78.15) for the NB-BLCA model using the EM algorithm and ordinary NB classifier, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: When considering the modification of the NB classifier, incorporating a latent component into the model offers numerous advantages, particularly within medical and health-related contexts. By doing so, the researchers can bypass the extensive search algorithm and structure learning required in the local learning and structure extension approach. The inclusion of latent class variables allows for the integration of all attributes during model construction. Consequently, the NB-BLCA model serves as a suitable alternative to conventional NB classifiers when the assumption of independence is violated, especially in domains pertaining to health and medicine.

PMID:37605107 | DOI:10.1186/s12874-023-02013-4

J Community Health. 2023 Aug 21. doi: 10.1007/s10900-023-01270-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Aim was to investigate the amount of smoking in popular streaming series in Germany with a focus on the comparison between series recommended for adults versus youth. The sample was drawn from the 35 highest user-rated streaming series, that released 1794 new episodes between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2020. One-third of the episodes (N = 598) were randomly selected and analyzed for smoking content. The age ratings of these episodes ranged from 6 to 18 years, with categories of “6”, “12”, “16” and “18” years. Ten of the 35 shows (28.6%) were completely smoke-free, 25 shows (71.4%) had at least one episode with smoking. Of all analyzed episodes, 25.1% contained smoking (range = 1 to 36 smoking scenes; median = 4). There was a statistically significant association between episode age rating and the presence of smoking (χ²[3] = 9.1; p = 0.028; Spearman’s rho = 0.11): The proportion of episodes with smoking was 0% for episodes with age ratings below 12 years, 20.4% for age ratings “12”, 28.3% for age ratings “16”, and 32.4% for age ratings “18”. This association differed between streaming services, but all services had smoking in episodes rated for youth. Smoking is common in popular streaming series. None of the streaming services meet the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to reliably restrict young people’s access to media content that depicts smoking.

PMID:37605099 | DOI:10.1007/s10900-023-01270-0

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Aug 21. doi: 10.1007/s00270-023-03532-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate rates of fibroid expulsion after uterine artery embolization (UAE) and risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of UAEs for fibroids between 2016 and 2020. Preoperative UAE and patients with incomplete follow-up were excluded. Patients underwent MRI before and 3 months after UAE and/or as indicated. Medical records were reviewed, and patient demographics, fibroid characteristics and clinical events were recorded. Fibroid expulsion included fibroid exposure to the endometrial cavity on MRI, and tissue loss/passage as observed clinically or on MRI. Symptoms were considered major if requiring additional clinic visits or treatment. Statistical tests included Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression models.

RESULTS: One hundred ninety-nine women were included. Symptomatic fibroid expulsion occurred after 31 (16%) procedures: 16 minor and 15 major. Symptoms included vaginal discharge (n = 23), bleeding (n = 9), tissue passage (n = 9), cramping/pain (n = 3), and fever (n = 4). Fifteen women (8%) needed additional care, of whom 6 (3%) required invasive procedures (4 elective hysterectomies, 1 hysteroscopic resection, 1 transvaginal removal of passing tissue). The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification was significantly associated with symptomatic fibroid expulsion (p = 0.001). Odds ratio for symptomatic expulsion and expulsion requiring additional care for FIGO 3-7 versus 0-2 fibroids was 0.32 (95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.71, p = 0.005) and 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.83, p = 0.02), respectively. Other factors were not consistently associated with expulsion.

CONCLUSION: Fibroid expulsion after uterine artery embolization was more common than previously reported but mostly asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. Women with FIGO ≤ 2 fibroids should be appropriately counseled regarding risk for expulsion.

PMID:37605055 | DOI:10.1007/s00270-023-03532-9

Nat Hum Behav. 2023 Aug 21. doi: 10.1038/s41562-023-01655-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Do anonymous online conversations between people with different political views exacerbate or mitigate partisan polarization? We created a mobile chat platform to study the impact of such discussions. Our study recruited Republicans and Democrats in the United States to complete a survey about their political views. We later randomized them into treatment conditions where they were offered financial incentives to use our platform to discuss a contentious policy issue with an opposing partisan. We found that people who engage in anonymous cross-party conversations about political topics exhibit substantial decreases in polarization compared with a placebo group that wrote an essay using the same conversation prompts. Moreover, these depolarizing effects were correlated with the civility of dialogue between study participants. Our findings demonstrate the potential for well-designed social media platforms to mitigate political polarization and underscore the need for a flexible platform for scientific research on social media.

PMID:37604989 | DOI:10.1038/s41562-023-01655-0

Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 21;13(1):13593. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40903-1.

ABSTRACT

The California bearing ratio (CBR) is one of the basic subgrade strength characterization properties in road pavement design for evaluating the bearing capacity of pavement subgrade materials. In this research, a new model based on the Gaussian process regression (GPR) computing technique was trained and developed to predict CBR value of hydrated lime-activated rice husk ash (HARHA) treated soil. An experimental database containing 121 data points have been used. The dataset contains input parameters namely HARHA-a hybrid geometrical binder, liquid limit, plastic limit, plastic index, optimum moisture content, activity and maximum dry density while the output parameter for the model is CBR. The performance of the GPR model is assessed using statistical parameters, including the coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), Relative Root Mean Square Error (RRMSE), and performance indicator (ρ). The obtained results through GPR model yield higher accuracy as compare to recently establish artificial neural network (ANN) and gene expression programming (GEP) models in the literature. The analysis of the R² together with MAE, RMSE, RRMSE, and ρ values for the CBR demonstrates that the GPR achieved a better prediction performance in training phase with (R² = 0.9999, MAE = 0.0920, RMSE = 0.13907, RRMSE = 0.0078 and ρ = 0.00391) succeeded by the ANN model with (R² = 0.9998, MAE = 0.0962, RMSE = 4.98, RRMSE = 0.20, and ρ = 0.100) and GEP model with (R² = 0.9972, MAE = 0.5, RMSE = 4.94, RRMSE = 0.202, and ρ = 0.101). Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis result shows that HARHA was the key parameter affecting the CBR.

PMID:37604957 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-40903-1

Histochem Cell Biol. 2023 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s00418-023-02232-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of obesity and phytotherapy with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on the nuclei of adrenal zona fasciculata (ZF) in the gerbil Gerbillus tarabuli by analyzing nuclear shape and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture characteristics and by quantifying heterochromatin. Twelve gerbils were divided into three groups: control (C), HC and HC-20E (animals receiving a high-calorie-diet without or with a supplement of 20E, respectively). The adrenals were removed and fixed for histological and statistical analysis. Principal component analysis showed a positive correlation of area, perimeter and textural correlation in C. Nevertheless, a negative correlation was recorded for contrast and entropy. The obesity caused a disorder in nuclear texture; negative correlation was noted with heterochromatin fraction, which may be related to increased ZF activity. However, administration of 20E seems to improve the nuclear state by preserving circularity, uniformity and homogeneity of nuclei as well as the proportion of heterochromatin, which could be a sign of a downregulation of cell activity.Our results suggest that new techniques of image processing could contribute to the understanding of nuclear changes associated with obesity and its possible therapy in this gerbil model for metabolic syndrome.

PMID:37604940 | DOI:10.1007/s00418-023-02232-2

Rheumatol Int. 2023 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s00296-023-05416-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The objectives are to describe the demographic and clinical properties of Behçet’s disease (BD) and investigate their relationship with the use of biological agents. Four hundred-eighty-eight patients, (299 (61.3%) males, 189 (38.7%) females), who fulfilled the ISG classification criteria for BD were included, retrospectively. The patient’s demographics, disease onset age (DOA), clinical findings of the disease, and the drugs were determined and analyzed statistically. The means of patient age and DOA were 40.7 ± 9.9 and 30.8 ± 8.8 years, respectively. The most common initial findings were oral ulcer (OU)s (30.1%), genital ulcer (GU) (27.5%), ocular involvement (OI) (12.5%), and papulopustular lesion (PPL)s (10.1%). The most common clinical manifestations were OUs (96.9%), PPLs (70.2%), HLA-B51 (64.4%), positive pathergy reaction (26.4%), GU (58.8%), OI (44.7%), erythema nodosum (29.8%), and vascular involvement (VSI) (27.3%). Although, the frequency of GU was higher in females (p = 0.01), PPLs (p = 0.001) and VSI (p = 0.001) were higher in males. Sixty-three (8.9%) patients used a biological agent. Its frequency was higher in younger patients (< 40 years) (p = 0.006), males (p = 0.012) and patients with OI (p = 0.001). Besides, the DOA (p = 0.012) and the current age (p = 0.001) were lower in biological agent users. The possibility of using biological agent was increased in males (OR = 2.2), patients with OI (OR = 2.7) and young patients (OR = 0.9). Mucocutaneous lesions are distinctive features of BD, especially OUs precede other findings. GU was more common in females and PPLs and VSI were in males. The probability of using biologics is higher in males, patients with OI, and young patients.

PMID:37604938 | DOI:10.1007/s00296-023-05416-0

Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 21;13(1):13580. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40565-z.

ABSTRACT

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) activate anti-tumor activity by inhibiting immune checkpoint molecules that suppress inflammatory T-cell activity. However, ICIs can initiate excessive immune responses, thereby causing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ICI-associated uveitis (ICIU) is an irAE that affects the eyes. Although Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH)-like uveitis is a common form of ICIU, it is unclear which factors determine the ICIU form. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of nine ICIU cases treated with ICIs for malignancies. We also performed HLA typing in seven cases to investigate the association between HLA and disease type. Fisher’s exact test was used for the statistical analysis. Five of the ICIU cases were VKH-like ICIUs, and four were non-VKH-like ICIUs. No association was found between mean age, sex, primary disease, ICI, time to onset, and disease type. Four patients with VKH-like uveitis underwent HLA genotyping and were all positive for HLA-DRB1*04:05. All 3 patients with non-VKH-like uveitis were negative for HLA-DRB1*04:05. Statistical analysis showed that HLA-DRB1*04:05 was significantly associated with developing VKH-like ICIU (P = 0.029). In ICIU, HLA-DRB1*04:05 was associated with the pathogenesis of VKH-like uveitis, suggesting that ICI-associated VKH-like uveitis has a similar pathogenesis to VKH.

PMID:37604934 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-40565-z

J Public Health Policy. 2023 Aug 21. doi: 10.1057/s41271-023-00433-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Inequalities in the accessibility and utilization of quality, safe, and effective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines across and within countries limited their value in protecting health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We quantified cross-country, income-associated inequality in COVID-19 vaccination using statistical models based on the data for 79 countries through December 2021. We found notable inequality in vaccinations per capita. At least 11.9% of doses administered in high-income countries could be redistributed to low-income countries to substantially reduce income-associated inequality in vaccinations. The results of this modeling study indicate that reliance on multiple doses of vaccine to attain optimal protection from COVID-19 is a significant contributor to inequality in vaccinations per capita. Dose-sharing mechanisms should account for and include efforts to optimize the capabilities of health systems to deliver vaccines.

PMID:37604927 | DOI:10.1057/s41271-023-00433-6

Br Dent J. 2023 Aug 21. doi: 10.1038/s41415-023-6182-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Supervised toothbrushing programmes (STPs) are a cost-effective public health intervention, reducing tooth decay and health inequalities in children. However, the uptake of STPs in England is unknown. This study aimed to establish the current provision of STPs across England and summarise the barriers and facilitators to their implementation.Methods An online survey was sent to dental public health consultants, local authority (LA) oral health leads, and public health practitioners across England. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Barriers and facilitators were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.Results Information was received for 141 LAs across England. Approximately half implemented an STP (n = 68/141). Most STPs were commissioned by LAs (n = 44/68) and adopted a targeted approach (n = 54/68). Barriers to implementation were: 1) acquiring funding; 2) poor communication and engagement between LAs, oral health providers and settings; 3) oral health not a priority; 4) logistically challenging to implement; and 5) lack of capacity. Facilitators were: 1) an integrated and mandated public health approach; 2) collaboration and ongoing support between LAs, oral health providers, and settings; 3) clarity of guidance; 4) flexible approach to delivery; 5) adequate available resources; and 6) ownership and empowerment of setting staff.Conclusion The current provision of STPs is varied, and although there are challenges to their implementation, there are also areas of good practice where these challenges have been overcome.

PMID:37604921 | DOI:10.1038/s41415-023-6182-1