Nevin Manimala

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2022 Jan;33(1):9-16. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202201.001.

ABSTRACT

Forest biomass is an important index in forest development planning and forest resource monitoring. In order to provide a more efficient and low-biased method for estimating individual tree biomass, we introduced artificial neural network here. We used the data of aboveground biomass of 101 Larix olgensis trees harvested from the Dongzhelenghe Forest Farm in Heilongjiang Province to develop four aggregation model systems (AMS), based on different combination of the variables (diameter at breast height, tree height, crown width). The weighted functions were used to eliminate heteroscedasticity. Then, we trained artificial neural network (ANN) biomass model based on the optimal combination. The models were tested by the leave-one-out cross-validation method to compare the accuracy of the two biomass estimation methods. The results showed that biomass model based on only one variable, diameter at breast height, could accurately estimate the biomass of L. olgensis. Adding two indices, tree height and crown width, could improve the fitting performance of models, with AMS4 performing the best among the four addictive model systems. The biomass models developed by the two methods both could estimate biomass at tree level accurately, with the coefficient of determination (R²) of each component was higher than 0.87. Compared with the AMS4, R² of leaf biomass model was about 0.05 higher, and that of other organs were also about 0.01 higher in artificial neural network model system. In addition, the root mean square error (RMSE) and other indicators were also significantly smaller. For example, the RMSE of tree stem and aboveground biomass were smaller by 2.135 kg and 3.908 kg, respectively. The model’s validation statistics mean relative error (MRE) performed better. In general, ANN was a flexible and reliable biomass estimation method, which was worthy consideration when predicting tree component biomass or aboveground biomass.

PMID:35224920 | DOI:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202201.001

Rev Med Suisse. 2022 Feb 23;18(770):343-346. doi: 10.53738/REVMED.2022.18.770.343.

ABSTRACT

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TK-CM) is a reversible acute left ventricular dysfunction that cannot be explained by an obstructive coronary lesion. The aim of our study was to explore the possible correlation between the incidence of TK-CM in summer and the average temperature, number of heat waves or number of days hotter than 30°C. 482 patients presented an acute coronary syndrome in the summers of 2012 until 2017 in our region. 15 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were diagnosed as TK-CM. The study analysis showed a statistically correlation between the number of heatwaves and the incidence of TK-CM (coefficient of correlation: 0.77; p = 0.04). This comforts the hypothesis of climatic influence on this pathology.

PMID:35224911 | DOI:10.53738/REVMED.2022.18.770.343

Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2022 Feb 27. doi: 10.1002/alr.22992. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are major challenges in olfactory measurements in clinical practice; therefore, a handheld digital scent device (DSD; Noar MultiScent 20^® ) was developed as a tablet with an integrated storage system for odors. The DSD is a self-administered, handheld device that controls the duration of odor release to the nasal cavity through a touchscreen digital interface with automatic database generation. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of this DSD as an olfactory assessment test.

METHODS: We recruited 180 participants (mean ± standard deviation age: 34.58 ± 9.71 years; 114 women and 66 men) to participate in smell tests using both the DSD and the 40-item Smell Identification Test (SIT-40), which contained the same type and order of odors and the same multiple-choice answers. The scores were compared and evaluated for correlation between the tests, and test-retest reliability was calculated.

RESULTS: The DSD test scores were higher than the SIT-40 scores (median [interquartile range] = 32 [5.0] vs. 31 [7.0], p = 0.005). The completion time was lower for the DSD test than for the SIT-40 (12.5 [5.0] vs. 16 [6.0] min, p < 0.001). The tests were strongly correlated (Spearman’s rho: 0.74; p < 0.001) and exhibited a high level of agreement (Bland-Altman regression coefficient: 0.672; p = 0.003). The DSD test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.820.

CONCLUSIONS: The DSD is feasible as an olfactory assessment test. The digitalization of olfactory assessment combined with data science may enable new research perspectives in the field of olfaction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35224885 | DOI:10.1002/alr.22992

Emerg Med Australas. 2022 Feb 27. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13936. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

E-learning (EL) has been developing as a medical education resource since the arrival of the internet. The COVID-19 pandemic has minimised clinical exposure for medical trainees and forced educators to use EL to replace traditional learning (TL) resources. The aim of this review was to determine the impact of EL versus TL on emergency medicine (EM) learning outcomes of medical trainees. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement using articles sourced from CINAHL, Embase, OVID Medline and PubMed. Articles were independently reviewed by two reviewers following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The search yielded a total of 1586 non-duplicate studies. A total of 19 studies were included for data extraction. Fifteen of the included studies assessed knowledge gain of participants using multiple-choice questions as an outcome measure. Eleven of the 15 demonstrated no statistically significant difference while two studies favoured EL with statistical significance and two favoured TL with statistical significance. Six of the included studies assessed practical skill gain of participants. Five of the six demonstrated no statistical significance while one study favoured EL with statistical significance. This systematic review suggests that EL may be comparable to TL for the teaching of EM. The authors encourage the integration of EL as an adjunct to face-to-face teaching where possible in EM curricula; however, the overall low quality of evidence precludes definitive conclusions from being drawn.

PMID:35224870 | DOI:10.1111/1742-6723.13936

Int Wound J. 2022 Feb 28. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13779. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to describe pressure ulcer prevalence and prevention interventions in hospital care in Sweden based on nationwide surveys conducted over a 10-year period. All Swedish hospitals were invited to participate in annual pressure ulcer prevalence surveys during the period 2011-2020. The data collection protocols included gender, age, skin assessment, risk assessment, and preventive interventions. In total, more than 130,000 patients were included in the ten prevalence surveys. The prevalence of pressure ulcers in Swedish hospital patients decreased significantly from 17.0 %to 11.4% between 2011 and 2020 and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers decreased from 8.1% to 6.4% between 2018 and 2020. There was no significant decline in medicaldevice-related pressure ulcers during the same period. The proportion of patients who were risk and skin assessed increased, as did the use of pressure-reducing mattresses, sliding sheets, heel protection, and nrepositioning plans. This study shows that the implementation of a national patient safety program has had an impact on the nationwide prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospital care and the occurrence of prevention strategies. However, one in ten patients in Swedish hospitals still suffers from pressure ulcers. Further improvements can be made.

PMID:35224868 | DOI:10.1111/iwj.13779

J Sleep Res. 2022 Feb 27:e13573. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13573. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Evidence on the relationship between periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) and cerebral small vessel disease is lacking. This study aimed to assess the association between the PLMS index and the neuroimaging features of cerebral small vessel disease on magnetic resonance imaging. Consecutive patients diagnosed with cerebral small vessel disease were enrolled. Data on the clinical characteristics, polysomnography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were collected. The Accubrain software was used to calculate automatically the volume of white matter hyperintensities, the number of lacunar infarctions, and cerebral microbleeds. The severity of white matter hyperintensities, enlarged basal ganglia perivascular spaces, and the total cerebral small vessel disease scores were also rated visually using semiquantitative scales. The severity of PLMS was measured using the PLMS index, and the patients were divided into two groups using an established cut-off value of ≥15 per hour. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between PLMS and the neuroimaging features of cerebral small vessel disease. In total, 37 patients were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 66.49 ± 11.31 years, and 73.0% were males. The mean PLMS index was 19.30 ± 10.18. In univariate analyses, it was found that patients with cerebral small vessel disease with a PLMS index ≥15 had increased enlarged basal ganglia perivascular spaces (OR 6.136, 95%CI 1.101-34.214) and increased total cerebral small vessel disease scores (OR 6.0, 95%CI 1.253-28.742). Only the association between the PLMS index and the total cerebral small vessel disease burden score remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, sex, and the presence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In conclusion, an elevated PLMS index is likely to be associated with a greater cerebral small vessel disease burden. PLMS might be a novel potential marker of cerebral small vessel disease.

PMID:35224805 | DOI:10.1111/jsr.13573

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2022 Feb 27. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28127. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional variable flip angle (VFA) methods are commonly used for T₁ mapping of the liver, but there is no data on the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of this technique in this organ in a multivendor setting.

PURPOSE: To measure bias, repeatability, and reproducibility of VFA T₁ mapping in the liver.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective observational.

POPULATION: Eight healthy volunteers, four women, with no known liver disease.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5-T and 3.0-T; three-dimensional steady-state spoiled gradient echo with VFAs; Look-Locker.

ASSESSMENT: Traveling volunteers were scanned twice each (30 minutes to 3 months apart) on six MRI scanners from three vendors (GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, and Siemens Healthineers) at two field strengths. The maximum period between the first and last scans among all volunteers was 9 months. Volunteers were instructed to abstain from alcohol intake for at least 72 hours prior to each scan and avoid high cholesterol foods on the day of the scan.

STATISTICAL TESTS: Repeated measures ANOVA, Student t-test, Levene’s test of variances, and 95% significance level. The percent error relative to literature liver T₁ in healthy volunteers was used to assess bias. The relative error (RE) due to intrascanner and interscanner variation in T₁ measurements was used to assess repeatability and reproducibility.

RESULTS: The 95% confidence interval (CI) on the mean bias and mean repeatability RE of VFA T₁ in the healthy liver was 34 ± 6% and 10 ± 3%, respectively. The 95% CI on the mean reproducibility RE at 1.5 T and 3.0 T was 29 ± 7% and 25 ± 4%, respectively.

DATA CONCLUSION: Bias, repeatability, and reproducibility of VFA T₁ mapping in the liver in a multivendor setting are similar to those reported for breast, prostate, and brain.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.

PMID:35224803 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28127

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2022 Feb 27. doi: 10.1111/clr.13912. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of two xenografts for maxillary sinus floor augmentation in terms of clinical, radiographical, histological and molecular outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A split-mouth randomized clinical trial was conducted at the University of Granada. Ten consecutive patients in need of bilateral two staged maxillary sinus floor augmentation were included. Each patient received both biomaterials (porcine bone mineral and anorganic bovine bone), which were randomly assigned for bilateral sinus augmentation. The maxillary autogenous bone scraped from the sinus access window was mixed with each xenograft at a 20:80 ratio. After a healing period of 6 months, bone biopsies were collected with a trephine during the implant placement in the regenerated area. Histological, histomorphometrical, immunohistochemical and molecular outcomes were analyzed. Clinical and radiographical data throughout the treatment phases were also evaluated.

RESULTS: The resulting anatomical features were similar between both groups. After six months of graft consolidation, the graft resorption rates were similar between both biomaterials. The histological, histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical results showed no statistical differences between groups.

CONCLUSION: Anorganic bovine bone and porcine bone mineral combined with maxillary autogenous cortical bone show similar biological and radiological features in terms of biomaterial resorption, osteoconduction and osteogenesis when used for maxillary sinus floor augmentation.

PMID:35224778 | DOI:10.1111/clr.13912

Echocardiography. 2022 Feb 27. doi: 10.1111/echo.15328. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the grade of diastolic dysfunction (DD) and the occurrence of early allograft dysfunction (EAD) in liver transplant patients following the new 2016 American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASE/EACVI) guidelines.

METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2019, we retrospectively analyzed 83 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and their susceptibility to develop EAD according to the grade of preoperative DD. EAD was defined according to the criteria proposed by Olfhoff et al.; DD was defined with four parameters: E/A, e/e’, Left Atrium volume, and Tricuspid Regurgitation velocity.

RESULTS: According to the ASE/EACVI guidelines grade II DD was detected in 20 patients (24.1%) undergoing OLTx. A statistically significant association was found between grade II DD and the occurrence of EAD (p-value < 0.003). The Kaplan-Meier analysis failed to find any significant difference between the survival probability, nevertheless at the end of a 90-day follow-up period, mortality showed a different trend in classes with more severe diastolic dysfunction.

CONCLUSION: According to the ASE/EACVI guidelines from 2016, patients with grade II DD seem to have a higher propensity to develop early allograft dysfunction EAD after OLTx. Our study advises a need for an urgent prospective multicenter study to elucidate the long-term outcomes of liver transplants patients with diastolic dysfunction.

PMID:35224775 | DOI:10.1111/echo.15328

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2022 Feb 28. doi: 10.1111/clr.13913. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare screw-retained and cemented all-ceramic implant-supported single crowns regarding biological and technical outcomes over a 5-year observation period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: in 44 patients, 44 two-piece dental implants were placed in single tooth gaps in the esthetic zone. Patients randomly received a screw-retained (SR) or cemented (CR) all-ceramic single crown and were then re-examined annually up to 5 years. Outcome measures included: clinical, biological, technical and radiographic parameters. Data were statistically analyzed with Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Fisher exact tests.

RESULTS: During the observation period, three patients (6.8%) were loss to follow-up. Eight restorations (18.2%, CI (8.2%, 32.7%)) were lost due to technical (6 patients, 13.6% (CI (5.2%, 27.4%)), 2 CR and 4 SR group, intergroup p=0.673; implants still present) or biological complications (2 patients, 4.5% (CI (0.6%, 16.5%)), only CR group, intergroup p=0.201, both implants lost). This resulted in a survival rate of 81.2% (CI (65.9%, 90.1%)) on the restorative level (18 SR; 15 CR, 3 lost to follow-up). At the 5-year follow-up, the median marginal bone levels were located slightly apical relative to the implant shoulder with 0.4 mm (0.5; 0.3) (SR) and 0.4 mm (0.8; 0.3) (CR) (intergroup p=0.582). Cemented restorations demonstrated a significantly higher biological complication rate (36.8%, SR 0.0%; intergroup p=0.0022), as well as a significantly higher overall complication rate (68.4%, SR 22.7%, intergroup p=0.0049). All other outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: All-ceramic single-tooth restorations on two-piece dental implants resulted in a relatively low survival rate. Cemented restorations were associated with a higher biological and overall complication rate than screw-retained restorations.

PMID:35224774 | DOI:10.1111/clr.13913